Corporate Social Review Magazine 1st Quarter 2013 | Page 8

to children, who do not get to go to a Church Sunday School.
One then goes along the wayside, gathering children to teach
them about the love of God, and how if we accept His love, we
and live a life pleasing to Him, we can have new hope through
spiritual values lived. I chose to do this at Slovo Park which was
the nearest informal settlement near to where I live, and where
I felt I wanted to make a contribution. However, I soon found
out, that because of the circumstances people are face with,
much more was needed then telling of God’s love. I needed
to show love in action, unconditionally and with all sincerity of
heart. The establishment then of the SCE project allowed me the
opportunity to make a different through “practical” Christianity
for the cause of humanity.
2. What were the initial challenges?

are most suitable for the implementation of our programmes. We
are now just planning to work on the renovations required, to get
us going full swing with the programmes.”
Transnet Foundation Senior Manager: Grants, Lindi Tshilingalinga
says Transnet believes that this programme is supportive of its
thinking and values of giving support to the communities within
which the company operates. The programmes, such as its
after school programme; school holiday programme; nutrition
support; school placement and remedial classes; and spiritual
programmes are supportive of our belief of extending as much
resources to the moulding of the next generation within those
underprivileged communities of our society. Transnet (SOC)
Limited has donated six hundred thousand rand spread over 3
years at two hundred thousand rand per annum for the 2011/12,
2012/13 and 2013/14 financial years for the core programmes
mentioned above.

I did not know if I would be accepted by the community, as I
was from another racial group, but I soon found out that when
showing love in action, there are no racial boundaries. Further,
even though I was offered space for the to run the project, it was
an old dilapidated School hall, opposite the settlement which
had no running water in the in building, also the environment
surrounding this was polluted and unhealthy. However, people
were living under in these circumstances, so I had to make
the best of things, as it was just opposite the settlement. As
the project developed, the continuous catering of pots of food
cooked at my home to feed the children, along with bottles of
home-made juice, and all sorts of other stuff to make things
happen, became a major challenge. I literally ran the project
from the boot of my car for 8 years. These days it is the office
from my boot, as I to/fro with my bags.

SCE has proved to be a beacon of hope for the community,
and the Coordinator of the project has a close and trusting
working relationship with people in the settlement. The SCE
project continues to seek links with various partnerships that
will enable its development and progress as it works towards its
sustainability within the Slovo Park settlement. (654)
1. What inspired you to begin the Slovo Centre for Excellence
(SCE)?
It was the desire deep down within me to make a contribution
to our country’s new democracy, albeit 10 years down the line.
I remember listening to then President, Thabo Mbeki, when
he gave his State of the Nation address. He appealed to all
South African citizens to come alongside Government, to assist
them in reaching out to the poorest of the poor in our country,
those who found themselves living in a state of poverty and
deprivation due to circumstances beyond their control, because
the need was so great, he made it quite clear, that this was not
something that could be tackled by Government alone. The
realization of what our democracy meant to the citizens of our
country, made me want to make a contribution, in any which
way that I could, because of what others had sacrificed to fight
for our new democracy. The SCE grassroots project only came
about 5 years thereafter, but by then the passion to continue
making a difference was so strong, that I just wished to go on
serving God and humanity through the establishment of the SCE
project. I initially started out on 5 February 2005 with what is
known as a Wayside Sunday School (WSS), which is a service
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3. How do Transnet and UJ benefit from their association with
the centre?
Transnet - has been our 1st and only Donor, thus far. They have
enabled us to take transition from our grassroots status, to that
of working towards sustainability of The SCE project. I would like
to believe, that their CSI thrust has offered them fulfillment of
purpose, which is to help build stronger, healthier communities.
Their financial and in-kind contribution through the new premises
we now Lease from them has made a major difference to the
development of the SCE programmes.
Skills development of some of th e Young Adults of the community
to become Programme Facilitators is a major step forward for
Job creation opportunity. There remains great potential for such
self-development, which can offer job opportunity for many
other young adults, if more funding could be sourced. They are

CORPORATE SOCIAL REVIEW
2013/07/29 10:45 AM