Second-year UKZN Nursing students donated groceries worth more than R5 000 to the non-profit organisation Siphilisiwe Community Care in Durban’s Point area as part of their community engagement contribution.
Siphilisiwe Community Care was identified by the students through the organisation’s community profile project which forms part of its Nursing course and requires the students to conduct research in assigned communities, identify key problems and search for solutions.
After that, the students devise an outreach programme to raise awareness about the problems they identify and conduct interventions, making contributions in whatever way they can.
Nursing student, Ms Nqobile Msibi said they chose to donate to the Point community through the Siphilisiwe Community Care organisation because of the work the NPO is doing. They approached Siphilisiwe’s soup kitchen owner Ms Mam Yolanda to establish what was needed. Yolanda said they needed food and a drug abuse intervention programme to help street children addicted to drugs.
Ms Thando Dambuza, the organisation’s secretary, said members of the year-old NPO were passionate about feeding the vulnerable.
‘The organisation started operating during the national lockdown last year,’ said Dambuza. ‘We cook food for homeless people or others in need. Beyond that, we help the homeless reunite with their families, and try to get these people off the streets, see them through the process of detox and if necessary take them to hospitals or rehabilitation centres.’
Dambuza added that the organisation relied solely on donations and contributions. ‘We are thankful to the students of UKZN for this donation. I am positive that it will see us through for some time as we continue our work,’ she said.
The students also conducted a programme in the area on the dangers of substance abuse.
Words: Nombuso Dlamini
