Jerimia Thuynsma, Mitchell’s Plain Community Advice and Development Project (MPCADP) coordinator
The Mitchell’s Plain Community Advice and Development Project (MPCADP) wants to use this opportunity to give Christmas wishes to all Mitchell’s Plain residents.
It has been a busy year for the advice office as we continued with our labour law education workshops and held youth engagements that resulted in a Go Getters Career Expo at Rocklands High School and a “jobs connect” event at Beacon Valley Community Centre.
We held various women rights and human rights events in August and during the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign.
We held a child-maintenance workshop in partnership with the National Prosecuting Authority at Imperial Primary School.
We held a service-delivery dialogue with the office of the public protector at Mitchell’s Plain indoor sports centre, in Portland.
We had various gatherings with our senior social group as well as an outing to Green Point Park.
We had a Heritage Day Indoor World Cup at the Duncan Indoor Sports Arena at Liberty Promenade.
We started with our “coach per school” project at Hazeldene Primary School, Imperial Primary School, Littlewood Primary School and Portland Primary School.
We held a successful biennial general meeting and appointed a new management board for the advice office.
Our office will be closed between Thursday December 15 and Monday January 16.
We want to ask our parents to look after our children during this festive period. Keep them within close proximity to you especially when you go to the shopping centres and malls.
I want to ask our people to be vigilant for thieves both at shopping centres and public transport.
Poverty because of unemployment is a serious problem in our communities. Help one another. Let’s return to our neighbourliness and help thy neighbour.
We expect 2023 to be a graceful year and as such ask our parents to ensure that the children are returning to school. They are our future and our best hope to turn things around.
Please, if you have not registered your child for Grade 1 and Grade 8, do not wait for the start of the school term to do something about it.
For assistance, visit the education department offices in Lentegeur in early January.
Those that registered their children but did not get placement for your child should do the same.
To the landlords, we are asking you to be compassionate this season. Please do not evict your tenants during this festive season.
Allow your tenants to find alternative accommodation first before you start eviction procedures.
To the matric class of 2022, just remember, this is your future.
When you get successful results, get yourself into a post-school institution. We hope you have applied for entry, as we alone hosted two sessions with College of Cape Town and False Bay College to inform you of study opportunities at those institutions.
Those who did not apply to go to False Bay College, College of Cape Town, Northlink College, Boland College or Westcoast College, you still have time.
We will be able to assist you, but it is better if you apply online the day you receive your results.
Those that want to study at university but did not apply, please note your best chance is to go to the university campus and try to register there.
To those who might not get a successful result, there is a second-chance programme available at all high schools. However, there is a dedicated team based at Rocklands High School.
This is your future. Do not wait for your parents to find ways to help you.
Use your smartphone and find study avenues that meet your qualifications.
For assistance and advice you may call 021 392 2000 when we open on Monday January 16 next year.