VUT Continues to foster the culture of giving back and advancing its agenda of Community Engagement
VUT Continues to foster the culture of giving back and advancing its agenda of Community Engagement
By Thato Phalole and Puleng Maphisa – 08 July 2021
A day of refurbishment in Boipatong.
A four-day social cohesion and nation-building programme led by the Department of Arts and Culture in partnership with the Vaal University of Technology (VUT); Ubaba Oqotho Men’s forum; Ntlangano Business Enterprise and the Boipatong community, was held to uplift poverty-stricken families in the surrounding community. The programme commenced on Monday, 14 June 2021 with a house refurbishment in Small farms, Evaton. It proceeded to a dialogue on 15 June 2021; a conversation on 16 June 2021 in accordance to commemorate the Youth Day and further proceeded to a refurbishment of a home in Boipatong. The ward Councillor of Boipatong Cllr Norman Makhobotloane identified the family and decided to consolidate various sponsors to assist.
Community volunteers came in numbers with strict COVID-19 protocols being observed to help in refurbishing the house to make it more comfortable and habitable for the family. The programme was successfully facilitated by Mr. Joseph Radebe; VUT Social Cohesion Advocate and Acting Director- Community engagement. Mr. Radebe advised the youth not to be charitable in approach and moreover encouraged young people to be active citizens to support all efforts of addressing challenges.
The two sisters residing in the house were beyond ecstatic and had a mouthful to say: “I am grateful to everyone who had a hand in transforming our living situation. It was unpleasant to live here. We see this as a great start to advancing ourselves.”
The sisters are planning to go back to school, as one of them dropped out in grade 9. They hope to have an established hair salon because they believe it’s their God-given talent.
Donation handover to Ms Rebecca Lebeko
The small Farm family widow Ms Rebecca Lebeko, received a warm visit from VUT delegates along with the associated partners. Ms Lebeko said that she never expected this day come in her life, as she has been struggling for many years.
“I have 3 sons and 1 granddaughter that am taking care off. I am currently unemployed and there is no one working to support the family. Ever since my husband passed on in 2014, everything changed, business collapsed and I had no one to turn to for help, even my own family have turned their backs against me. You do not know what you have done for me today, I really have no words to express how I feel but I am grateful for the blessings that I have received”, said Ms Lebeko with excitement when receiving her groceries.
Ms Lebeko said that she has been knocking at the ward Councillors door for many years asking for family assistance and today she was also selected and had been promised by Mr Joseph Radebe that they will come back and renovate her house where necessary on the 18 July 2021.