André Strydom is in full time ministry at Anchor of Hope, a non-profit organisation which uplifts those in need. Strydom has been nominated for the Heidedaller Friend of the Year category.
1. How do you feel about being nominated as Heidedaller Friend of the Year?
I am really surprised, but also very humbled. Not only to be nominated, but to also be part of this event. It is surely a privilege and I am grateful to participate.
2. Why do you think you have been nominated?
My guess is that I have been nominated firstly for the passion I have for the community of Heidedal and also because of the projects I’m running and the community work I have been doing in Heidedal.
3. Which community projects have you been involved in, in Heidedal?
I have been involved in any various activities, e.g. since the beginning of this year I have sent away 23 young men and women who were addicted to drugs to Victory Outreach’s free recovery homes throughout SA. We have finally set up a free Victory home right here in Heidedal recently, which allows the individuals to stay there free of charge for a period of 9 months during recovery. On Mandela Day, we fed hundreds of kids. We also hand out a lot of food parcels and clothing on a monthly basis. I have set up and manage two feeding schemes, both are fully operational and hundreds of children are fed on a daily basis.
4. Should you be chosen as the Heidedaller Friend of the Year, what are the things in Heidedal that you would address first?
Firstly, for someone to help the community of Heidedal, that individual needs to be able to listen to the community and not the community to that person. My strategy would be to involve the entire community in what we can do, united. My passion is to work with people who are caught up in substance abuse. We need to help people and not try and get rid of them. We as Heidedal people can make a difference in all areas if we do it together. The key is to do it with love and get everybody involved to make it a better Heidedal.
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