Those who attend this weekend’s Mitchell’s Plain Festival will be able to have fun and support worthy causes and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who will have stalls at the event.
At these stalls, festival-goers will be able to find out more about services rendered by these organisations and volunteer to help improve services in Mitchell’s Plain.
Here are some of the organisations who will be at the festival:
Mitchell’s Plain District Hospital, as a service provider at the festival, will have midwives, occupational and speech therapists, physiotherapists, doctors and outreach teams from Groote Schuur Hospital as well as representatives from the Parent Centre present.
They will focus on issues of health in pregnancy, exclusive breastfeeding, family planning, baby massages, developmental activities for children, diarrhoeal disease and basic life support.
Goodie bags with small samples and story books will be handed out to those who show interest in receiving information on the health of moms and babies.
A lucky draw will be done on Saturday afternoon.
On Sunday the outreach team from Groote Schuur Hospital will have information sessions about breast care.
For more information call Sister Dannelene Noach at the hospital on 021 377 4300.
Autism Connect Learning Centre is a registered NPO and community mental health facility affiliated to the Department of Health. It was founded by Nicolette Ripepi. It opened its new premises at 24 Saringa Road, in Westridge, on July 4, last year.
Autism is an umbrella term used to describe a group of complex disorders of brain development. Autism is a different way of interpreting and processing information. It affects four major areas of development: language and communication; social interaction; thinking and behaviour; and sensory processing, which are diagnosed on a spectrum.
For more information call Nicolette on 079 226 0063 or email info@autismconnect.org.za
Club JOY (Just Overaged Youth), a seniors’ club, which started registering members in October 2014, and organises events throughout the year. For more information contact Arthur Pillay on 076 942 7370.
Disabled Children’s Action Group (DICAG), based at 1A Tyne Road, Wynberg, established in 1993, comprises parents advocating for the rights of children with disabilities.
They will be distributing promotional material and selling tickets with messages on them as well as second-hand clothing.
Funds are in aid of assistive devices, including hearing aids, wheel chairs and high tech braille devices.
For more information call Sandra Ambrose, national coordinator, on 084 5404967.
Fikelela Aids project is the HIV/Aids outreach programme of the Anglican Diocese of Cape Town.
Fikelela – the Xhosa word for “reach out” was founded in 2000 with the vision of providing an active Christian response to the HIV/Aids pandemic in South Africa. They will be selling arts and crafts, including beading and sewing, made by members of their support group during the year.
Funds raised are in aid of a Christmas party and stationery for members’ children. For more information call Marie Lottering on 060 449 1157 or 021 705 7224.
Alpha and Omega Educare, a creche and orphanage, is based at 15 Jessica Street, Mandalay. For more information call Denise Bowman on 072 325 2602.
CPOA Belgravia Service Centre, based at 7 Denchworth Road in Belgravia, can be contacted on 021 696 3665.
Mitchell’s Plain People’s Forum, established in 2008 as a non-profit, community-based, fully constitutionalised mother-body, aims to develop a sustainable, economic, safe, secure and integrated plan for the people of Mitchell’s Plain. For more information visit them at Duneside Primary School, corner of De Duin Avenue and Angus Road, Westridge, or call Fred Arendse on 074 244 4245 or email cwpzone020@gmail.com.
The Clothing Bank, based at 33 Thor Circle in Thornton, receives donations of end of sale, over-runs and customer returns from major retailers.
They recruit up to 1 000 women into a two-year programme, whom they upskill with life-skills, business skills and mentoring to empower them to be self-employed and sustainable entrepreneurs. They earn on average R4 000 a month.
The women’s goods, including clothing, shoes and jewellery will be on sale at the festival.
For more information call Cathy Wegener on 083 708 3017.
Bicycles and Beyond (BAB) will be selling used, recycled and refurbished bicycles at their stall. They will be distributing free Stay Wider of the Rider licence disks and bumper stickers courtesy of Pedal Power Association.
You can pop a balloon to win a spot prize, get expert advice on bicycle mechanics from their founding partners Beverley Roode and Janine Van Beulen Johnson and also find out what BAB is all about. For more information email info@bicyclesbeyond.org.za.
