Nothing could have made Mama Kynoch Katie happier this winter than to receive keys to a brand new house thanks to the National Youth Development Agency’s (NYDA) youth volunteers.
After years living in a shack in Vaastrap, a squatter camp just outside Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape, Mama Katy and her two grandchildren are moving in to a comfortable home that was built by young volunteers as part of the YouthBuild project implemented in partnership with Provincial Department of Human Settlement, Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, National Home Builders Registration Council and Housing Development Agency.
In this financial year (2013/14) the NYDA in partnership with the Eastern Cape Department of Human Settlements will implement Youth Build projects which will see 300 out of school and unemployed youth get together to build houses for the vulnerable in their communities.
A total of 300 low cost houses will be built in six municipalities namely: Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, Joe Gqabi, Alfred Nzo, Chris Hani, Buffalo City and OR Tambo. In each of the municipalities 50 volunteers will participate in the building of these houses.
This is traditionally the national Department of Human Settlements and the NYDA’s approach to commemorate Youth Month by ensuring that qualifying needy beneficiaries receive homes while youth gain vital skills through voluntary community service.
Another deserving recipient of a house is 60-year-old Nombali Makalima who has a chronic heart condition and has to travel between PE and Cape Town on a regular basis. Makalima does not receive pension yet and relies on relatives for support. She has been living with different relatives for over 10 years. She will be sharing her new house with another family member.
“The NYDA is proud of the work it has done in this area. During the month of June alone we covered three provinces where the Youth Build is implemented, giving houses to the most vulnerable in those communities. In the Western Cape we rebuilt and handed over houses to two families whose homes burnt down in a fire.
We also built a library for Langa High School. We also launched the Youth Build project in eMtshezi in the KwaZulu Natal Midlands; we currently have 100 young volunteers who are undergoing training in construction and in a few weeks’ time these young people will build 100 houses in their communities,” says NYDA Chairperson, Yershen Pillay.
“In PE we have handed over 50 houses to deserving families and it gives me a feeling a fulfilment just knowing that we have made Mama Katie and Mama Makalima’s dreams of living in a decent home come true. I am also very proud of the volunteers that are part of Youth Build – they are keeping the spirit of ubuntu alive and they will soon be part of the active economy because this project equips them with skills to be employable or become entrepreneurs,” Pillay adds.
For media enquiries contact:
Linda Mbongwa
Cell: 082 315 3217
Tel: 011 651 7000
E-mail: Linda.Mbongwa@nyda.gov.za.
