 The red brick heart of Alex
Computer lessons, meals for the elderly, life skills for the
young, caregiving and support – these are just some of the needs met
by Alex's Phuthadichaba Health and Community Centre.
THE red brick double storey building in Alexandra's 17th Avenue
stands out like a beacon, an island in a sea of shacks that stretches
as far as the eye can see. Choral music filters from the building,
adding to the noise of taxis hooting and children playing in the
street.
It's a Thursday morning and the Phuthadichaba Health and Community
Centre, home to a computer centre, a library, a community hall and a
clinic, is a hive of activity. Alexandra's elderly residents are busy
with their morning activities, including singing, exercises and
tucking in on hot meals.
"Our pride is the computer centre, which is housed on the first floor
of the building," says Patricia Ledwaba, the project manager at
MaAfrika Tikkun, a non-governmental organisation that provides
home-based care to impoverished communities severely affected by
HIV/Aids, and lifeskills training to youths.
Opened on 1 March, the computer centre boasts nine computers, thanks
to a donation from the Rotary Club, Barloworld and MaAfrika Tikkun.
"Currently we conduct lessons from Tuesdays to Fridays and our
learners range from those who recently completed their high school to
elderly members of the community who are interested in learning how to
use computers," Ledwaba explains.
Lessons are given various applications, such as in MS Word, Excel,
Access and Powerpoint, and courses run for three months, after which
successful students are given accredited certificates. Each learner is
charged R200 a month for the whole course, according to Ledwaba.
"This is a minimal fee which is essentially for running costs because
we understand most participants cannot afford higher fees. The fee is
also a way to get commitment from the learners themselves."
One of them, Kedibone Alidzulwi, is a mother of three and enrolled for
computer lessons when the centre opened. She says she is gaining
computer skills that she hopes to use at the library where she works
fulltime as a librarian.
"As a librarian, I discovered that learning how to use a computer is
essential if I have to do my work effectively. We plan to install
computers in the library very soon in order to make our work easier
when it comes to recording reference numbers of all the books we
have."
Alidzulwi attends three-hour long lessons on Wednesdays and Fridays.
She says her instructor, Carol Moshowe, is patient and a good teacher
and if all goes well she hopes "to advance to do information
technology".
Because of growing demand, Ledwaba says the computer centre and the
library will be expanded to accommodate the ever-increasing number of
people who want to use the two facilities.
"There are plans to create a centre of excellence within the
Phuthadichaba complex. We plan to use the centre to enrol teachers
from Alex schools who wish to widen their knowledge. We are also
planning to create a computer centre for primary school children in
the library as there is a growing demand for such a service."
She says the Phuthadichaba Centre was founded 20 years ago by an Alex
resident and businessman, Linda Thwala, as a place where the elderly
could meet; activities were available to them. However, since MaAfrika
Tikkun took over in 2006, the centre has expanded to cater for
different age groups.
"The centre now gives support and provides community infrastructure
for children orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/Aids. We have also
developed life skills training programmes and camps to support these
children within the community. We have further trained caregivers who
provide a parental or guardian role to the children. The programme
also includes a social worker, schools and the government so that a
holistic service is provided."
MaAfrika Tikkun also has a care for the elderly programme
incorporating food provision, renovation of shacks, exercises and
home-based care where necessary.
"For those who are too old to make it to the centre we have a
meals-on-wheels facility that delivers food to them. We provide
counselling services to our communities and caregivers are trained in
counselling. All the cooks, caregivers and co-ordinators are
volunteers who provide their services for free," Ledwaba says.
|
