Phambili's History
Phambili ngeThemba was established in 2000 by the Pinelands Methodist Church as an emergency relief response to a devastating shack fire in the Joe Slovo community of Cape Town. Almost one thousand homes were destroyed, leaving thousands of people destitute.
While the destruction caused by the fire itself was immense, the crisis brought exposure to many of the serious underlying problems in the community – needs that must be addressed in order for the community as a whole to develop a sustainable and prosperous future.
Getting involved
Since 2000, the church has been involved in many areas of the community, faithfully remaining as the community continues to change. Activities have included the running of a successful sewing course, leadership training at Kulani High School, and the maintenance and development of the Chris Hani Primary School.
Expanding our impact
In 2007, Phambili ngeThemba officially registered as a Non-Profit Organisation and set about making a greater impact on the community of Langa by focusing on specific needs. Currently, three projects are being successfully run:
- The Zanokhanyo job readiness course trains, assists in placing and mentors unemployed persons in the hope of building sustainable futures.
- An orphan care programme developed in 2005 has continued to be effective in sustaining the welfare of children at Mokone Primary School.
- Supporting Mokone Primary School allows volunteers to use their skills to help teachers educate students and provide them with a bright future.