The Bonteheuwel Joint Peace Forum – Community Action Network (JPF-CAN) embarked on a fund-raising initiative to do much-needed repairs to the area’s multi-purpose centre.
The centre has been identified as the most appropriate venue in the area for a Community Care Centre (CCC) – a space where Covid-19 positive people who do not need hospital care, can safely isolate.
However, the building is in disrepair as a result of vandalism that occurred during lockdown. The recent storm also damaged windows.
The project manager, Nadia Mayman de Grass, said most people in the community live with others in small houses or in wendy houses in backyards and share bedrooms and bathrooms.
“The community care centre will be a home away from home for people to safely self-isolate in their own neighbourhoods,” Ms Mayman De Grass said.
Although the provincial Department of Health has established isolation and quarantine facilities, Ms Mayman De Grass said most of them were situated too far from the community.
“For many, the experience of being moved out of their communities, coupled with being diagnosed with Covid-19, increases levels of fear and anxiety. In addition, there is an increasing amount of stigma associated with Covid-19, and removal of infected people from their neighbourhoods exacerbates fear and stigma,” she said.
With the help of volunteers and members of the Rondebosch CAN group, the JPF-CAN already started with some sprucing up, as well as a food garden.
The group has called on individuals and businesses to support their cause with donations. Among the first fund-raisers they can benefit from, is the Radio Classics musical production, by Alistair Izobell and Clarence Ford, which will be hosted online on Friday July 17. Radio Classics ran for 14 successful weeks at the Baxter Theatre in 2012. Tickets are available from R75, and 25% of ticket sales will go to a charity chosen by the purchaser, as its Mandela Day initiative.
The JPF-CAN is also hosting a Mandela Day initiative on Saturday July 18, where people are urged to spend 67 minutes helping in the garden, or donate R67 towards the CCC.
Tickets for the online show can be bought at Quicket, click on tickets and select the Joint Peace Forum as the charity you’d like to support.
Contact Ms Mayman De Grass at 071 621 6256 or email jpf@bonteheuwel.co.za for details.