Concerned Parents and Residents Association of Eersterust – bringing hope to Eersterust

Desiree Fisher is an active member of the CP&RAoE (Concerned Parents and Residents Association of Eersterust) and I had the pleasure of meeting her a few weeks ago to discuss some of the work that she is doing in the community. The organisation is making notable strides in the community of Eersterust (Coloured suburb in Pretoria), with minimal resources. How are they doing this? Well, they have a dedicated team working against all odds to make living in Eersterust a better place. Most people complain about their communities and just sit but not these people. Eersterust has a history of gang violence, crime and drug and alcohol abuse but these members are not going to take this sitting down. They may not be caped heros but the work they are doing is worthy of titling them as superheros. The members who form this committee include Ms Desiree Fisher, Rev Raynard Shovel, Adv Lizelle Haskins, Mr Kenneth Petersen, Ms Dolores Williams, Ms Credwin Williams, Ms Januib Lutz and Ms Florence Martin.

The organisation is modest in size but massive in terms of character and vision. Their vision is for the children of Eersterust to have the opportunity to realise their potential, be respected by society and participate fully in the community, consistent with their human rights and responsibilities.

Their mission is to serve and make social and economic contributions to Eersterust and surrounding areas, in pursuit of the following objectives:
Ensure community acceptance and participation
Embrace change and take responsibility

Identify issues detrimental to the development of the children of Eersterust
Inculcate the issue of social responsibility among the community
Provide information for empowerment – both and socially and financially
Facilitate mentoring programmes
Uplift and improve quality of life by facilitating the attainment of skills
Foster cordial relations with appropriate Government Departments
Create awareness of the importance of a safe and clean community.
Create awareness of the work, objectives and ideals of the organisation

This is no easy feat but with a highly motivated team, they have made very notable progress in achieving these goals.

The organisation hosted a successful Breakfast function and Creative Table Competition on Friday June 16, 2006. In addition to the “top-billing” table settings which highlighted the creativity and taste of their people and a superb programme director…they were very fortunate to be “taught” by Mr Yusuf Abramjee on how imperative it is for communities to “work together” in order to help their children dream of a future. Yusuf Abramjee is Group Head of News and Talk Programming for Primedia Broadcasting, owners of Talk Radio 702, 94.7 Highveld Stereo, 567 Cape Talk and 94.5 Kfm.

The below extract was written by Yusuf Abramjee and was published in the Pretoria News on June 20, 2006.

Help them dream of a future!
Yusuf Abramjee

In the past few days, youth issues have been in the news. The 30th anniversary of the Soweto uprisings was celebrated last week and to commemorate the occasion various rallies were held across the country.

Many South Africans paid tribute to our fallen youth. June 16 1976 was the day which saw the face of South Africa changing. Friday was a day to reflect on our youth, their past, and their future.

I was asked by the Concerned Parents and Residents Association of Eersterust to address a meeting at the local civic centre. The invitation followed a column I wrote a few weeks ago about the drug problem in and around Tshwane.

On my arrival, I was moved to see the many youngsters who had gathered ahead of a march to the nearby sports stadium. For them it was a special day. Informally they spoke of their goals and their dreams. These kids were full of smiles. “I want to be president of South Africa one day,” a 14-year-old girl told me. A friend responded: “And I want to be deputy president.” It was great to hear kids having these ambitions, because their generation are the leaders of tomorrow.

As a journalist of many years, I always used to visit Eersterust for all the wrong reasons. Some years ago the area became notorious for gang warfare. I also recall reporting on a housing protest which turned violent.

I returned to the suburb this time, and left it on a positive note. I was most impressed to see members of the community standing together and trying to make a difference. The Concerned Parents and Residents Association of Eersterust was formed following the deaths of several young people. Community members supported each other, cried together and prayed together. Now they help the community in various ways.
This is the way forward. We cannot sit back and only complain and criticise the authorities. It is our responsibility to make a difference. Communities need to develop programmes for our youth, so that these teenagers are kept off the streets where they abuse drugs and alcohol.
The drug problem is not exclusive to areas such as Eersterust, Laudium and Mamelodi. This is a problem in every community in our city and country, and it is up to each of us to make a difference.
I’ve said it before, but at this time, as we focus on our youth, we need to remember that is up to us, the law-abiding citizens of this country, to blow the whistle on the drug lords and peddlers who are destroying our children’s lives.
The time has arrived for our youth to take the lead and get involved in community activities. We should also make them politically aware and prepare them for the future. Many use their time for futile activities.

Last weekend I accompanied police during a raid on illegal drag racing in Sunderland Ridge, outside Erasmia. There were hundreds of young people.
I suppose it is fun and entertainment for the spectators and the participants. But surely there are better things to do on a Sunday evening? The time could have been better spent on some or other community or family activity. Moreover, they are racing in a public street and risking the lives of others. Our priorities are wrong.
When the next anniversary of June 16 comes around, we need to have more reasons to celebrate the current younger generation’s contribution to our country. The children of 1976 laid the foundation. Today’s youth need to follow in their footsteps, assisting in positive ways to build a new South Africa that those we remembered on Friday could barely dream of.

*Ed* Bruinou.com fully supports the initiatives conducted by CP@RAoE and wishes them all the best for the future. More communities should form similar organisations and if you have something like this going within your community, please let us know so that we can share the good news with everyone. People hear enough about the bad going on in our communities so now it’s time to share and celebrate the good. Congratulations to CP&RAoE for all your efforts and we wish you all the best and hope that you go from strength to strength.