“Amid what we see or hear, there is hope for Bloemfontein. If we stand together as a community and stop pointing fingers but get involved with organisations such as ours, then together we can make an impact and create hope.”
This is according to Anchor of Hope’s Boeta Swart. Anchor of Hope is an umbrella registered non-profit organisation that aims to restore dignity to vulnerable people irrespective of age, gender, ability, political background, or race. This is achieved by providing clothing and non-perishable food to needy families via a network of organisations, projects, feeding schemes, counselling, awareness programmes, pregnancy home and job preparation and creation projects.
Based on a recently published article in Bloemfontein Courant regarding the non-collection of refuse, the organisation decided to take matters into their own hands by hosting a clean-up session in the Northern parts of the City on 25 June.
“Anchor of Hope has been cleaning that part of the City for the past two years and it was sad to see the effort that we put in and the financial investment individuals are making to keep this area clean going to waste,” said Swart.
He further said that in picking up garbage, people stopped to tell them that they are shining a light and restoring hope in Bloemfontein through the cleaning up efforts. “We also realise that without financial partners who share the same passion, what we do won’t be possible. Currently, we are cleaning and cutting 102km and 66ha of grass in and around Bloemfontein, mainly in the Northern parts. Our street project currently creates 26 jobs and the profit we make is invested back into the community through our shelter, home and food, and clothing store.”
According to Swart, getting businesses, individuals and associations to invest in the organisation’s dream of spreading hope through the projects for the employees, beneficiaries and partners is not easy. “It is more than just cleaning streets or picking up rubble or fixing potholes – it is about the families of each employee, it is about food and clothes distribution, it is about upliftment of the poor and needy in general.”
To get involved, contact Boeta on 083 325 1899, or visit their website on www.anchorofhope.co.za.
Justine Fortuin
[email protected]
