Kidz4Care, the Melkbos Care Centre and Melkbosstrand Community Centre have joined forces to render even better services to the community.
According to Karen Dreyer of the Melkbosstrand Community Centre, it became clear the three organisations were duplicating services.
“As we are in one town and serving the same community, it did not make sense,” she said. “By amalgamating we will now have one organisation with a big footprint in town to render non-statutory services, such as education support, providing children with meals and school clothes and the elderly with statistical support, and eventually establish an early education centre for underprivileged children of surrounding farms and settlements.”
The three organisations will have a central office, one board of directors and a more structured approach to implementing projects and services.
Dreyer says this move will ensure that funds can be raised in future to reach more people in need.
Collectively known as the Melkbos Care Centre, the organisations held their first fundraising event on Friday 1 September at the Ou Skip Caravan Park Hall, in partnership with the Atlantis-based Orion Organisation. The Spring Day event was attended by about 250 people, individuals and those from businesses and organisations.
Iron woman Liesl Schoonraad, known for swimming from Robben Island to Melkbosstrand and pulling a 10-ton truck, was guest speaker.
She inspired the audience to challenge themselves more.
“Challenge yourself to do something new, uncomfortable,” Schoonraad said. “Push yourself. That is the only way you will grow.”
More collaboration between NGOs of Atlantis and Melkbosstrand could possibly be in the pipeline.
“A lot of people from Atlantis knock on our doors for help,” Dreyer pointed out.
“In that way, we can ensure the correct people are serviced, and that we can learn from one another to serve the community better.
“What works in Atlantis may not work in Melkbosstrand but it will make it easier to collaborate on projects that will benefit both communities.”
