Project Umkomaas: A community-led initiative to rebuild and reclaim the town
The teamwork saw residents from the Widenham Retirement Village, who arrived in droves and with much energy, and the homeless people in town also joined in, with a promise of a free meal on completion of the task.
Project Umkomaas, a newly established NPO, comprises of volunteers within the community of Umkomaas.
It was established by a committee of three directors and seven members on November 11 to collaborate with the community, corporations, and the government to rebuild the town of Umkomaas.
With this vision in mind, the members decided to get together and clean up a section of the town that leads towards the beach on November 18. This area, the most popular route to the beach, seemed achievable.
The teamwork saw residents from the Widenham Retirement Village, who arrived in droves and with much energy, and the homeless people in town also joined in, with a promise of a free meal on completion of the task.
Everyone worked like champions alongside each other with one common goal. The long-term goal of Project Umkomaas is to reclaim the town, and according to Cathy Hallowell, a founding member, there is already the ‘Adopt Your Block’ initiative, which will see everyone in the community clean up their block.
The hope is that neighbours will work with each other to make their section look great, with the idea in mind that change, whether good or bad, is contagious.
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“We have seen the deterioration in the town that once had a thriving economy and was the highlight of many folks who came in buses and on trains to enjoy, not only the scuba diving but also the culture of an amazing community. We decided to start with something small, like a gardening project. We desire to create positive change, and from experience, we know that positive change has a snowball effect. Umkomaas has potential, and we have also embarked on a brave project- to look at the possibility of revamping our local clinic,” Hallowell said.
The local police were also incredibly helpful and supportive. “We find that litter is a big problem. If we can get enough bins in and around the community, I know we can make a difference. As with any fledgling project, there are always challenges- most revolve around our ignorance of where we need to go to find the help we need, but we have found our local councillor, Jane Naidoo, helpful,” she said.
The municipality has also been incredible, and they look forward to creating a sustainable working relationship with them.
“Drawing on the passion of experienced community members, we will teach new skills and upskill those needing assistance whilst adopting areas in the Umkomaas area that need gardening maintenance, replanting, and repair,” she concluded.
If you would like to get involved in Project Umkomaas, WhatsApp Cathy Hallowell on 083-459-3607.
