Nokuphila Community Services, a drop-in centre based in Selection Park, remains a pillar of hope for the Kwa-Thema and Springs community by providing essential services, including daily nutritious meals and social support.
The organisation was established in 2001 and is registered with the Gauteng Department of Social Development as an NPO.
It serves as the central distribution hub for food parcels across the Springs cluster community home-based care organisations located in Daggafontein, Payneville and Kwa-Thema.
According to the programme manager, Dipuo Ndlovu, the organisation has more than 500 beneficiaries. They continue to work towards breaking the cycle of poverty and vulnerability through structured care and developmental programmes.
“The drop-in centre provides care and support to 426 children. We offer a basket of services that includes psychosocial support, counselling, life skills programmes, balanced nutrition, after-care services, school holiday programmes, community awareness campaigns and social behaviour change programmes.
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“The NPO operates five days a week from 08:00 until 17:00. We also assist children with schoolwork and group them for discussions on social issues such as bullying and teenage pregnancy,” Ndlovu said.
In addition to the drop-in centre, the organisation operates an Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre which benefits at least 144 children.
“The ECD programme is funded by the Gauteng Department of Education, with the majority of children coming from disadvantaged families within the Kwa Thema and Tsakani townships,” she added.
Ndlovu added that the organisation employs 68 staff members, 47 of whom are funded by the Gauteng Department of Social Development.
They comprise social auxiliary workers, child and youth care workers and participants in the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).
“The NPO is compliant with all relevant legal frameworks, including the vetting of staff and board members,” she said.
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Ndlovu explained that home visits form a crucial part of their intervention strategy as they can gather insight that helps inform programme planning for subsequent years.
“We conduct home visits where we engage with parents about challenges they identify in their children. These visits help us better understand the children’s circumstances so that when they come to the centre, we are able to respond effectively,” she said.
She emphasised the importance of the organisation’s partnership with the Gauteng Department of Social Development in sustaining funded programmes such as the drop-in centre, EPWP and RISIHA programmes.
“We receive significant support from the department, particularly in terms of guidance and compliance. We are funded for only 202 beneficiaries, while our actual numbers are far higher. We have the potential to reach a greater number of children in terms of registration.
“We were approached by the department to act as a central distribution point for the cluster, allowing CHBC`s to collect food parcels here and distribute them to intended beneficiaries,” she added.
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