NOAH (Norwood, Orange Grove And Houghton) CAN (Community Action Network) in Johannesburg is working to save lives through the lockdown.
Johannesburg, South Africa (29 September 2020) – The NOAH (Norwood, Orange Grove And Houghton) CAN (Community Action Network) in Johannesburg was established at the start of lockdown to help provide for the people left behind.
Millions of South Africans were left destitute by the economic lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many were unable to access the additional funding or food parcels provided by the government. That is how community action networks were born in South Africa.
“We came together as many did when the hard lockdown started, to help those less fortunate than ourselves in our community who needed emergency food relief. We are feeding up to 2000 families at any given time and have helped avert a medical crisis brought on by starvation, which coupled with Covid-19 would have been catastrophic. We fall under the Gauteng Together Gauteng Together movement.
The need was far greater than we imagined, and we needed to quickly find more volunteers, fundraise for food, arrange a method of distributing the food hampers and track all donations. It was a vast undertaking, but we did it! We premise all our efforts with the ethos of Solidarity Not Charity.”
The NOAH CAN knew they needed to do more than provide food parcels, these were not sustainable nor would they help people climb out of the sudden poverty hole created by the hard lockdown.
“Giving a hand-out has been necessary, but it does not help our recipients climb out of the situation they are in that required them to need emergency food relief in the first place.
Emergency food relief will continue to be provided (funds allowing) to those that need, but we hope to use our platform to #BuildBackBetter in our community and make sure ‘No Neighbour Is Left Behind’.
We do not want to go back to the way things were before the lockdown, things were not normal, and poverty was overwhelming the area.
Through the NOAH CAN, we have met our neighbours, learnt of their stories both joyous and heart-breaking and have begun to break through the invisible barriers that kept us apart. This has been amazing to be a part of and witness. This is building the South Africa we all aspire to be a part of.”
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South Africa, We Have SO Much Good News to Share With You!The lockdown only shone a brighter light on the already struggling sectors. It meant that some serious forward-thinking would be needed so that as a country, this level of economic devastation is never felt again. Emily Wellman, the coordinator of NOAH CAN, has come up with a selection of ideas that will combat any future economic crisis in South Africa.
“We honestly believe the vision of a united South Africa can be rooted through community solidarity and engagement – this is our dream.
So, what do we want to do with all this positive energy?
Let’s create a circular economy! Give not just a hand-out, but a hand-up too!
Let’s shop and support local industry and micro-traders.
- We want to create an assets register of our area, not only physical assets people might have like sewing machines, but of skills and knowledge too,
- A place where we can find workers, plumbers, bakers etc. from within our precinct rather than looking outside it,
- We want to support micro-traders and help them sell their wares, to support spaza shops and home industry,
- We would like to set up community vegetable gardens and make better use of shared spaces,
- To create an avenue for waste pickers to easily move and sell their loads in exchange for goods or assistance they might need, and much more.
We have big dreams for #BuildingBackBetter and we have a proven track record of impeccable bookkeeping, archiving and carefully managing all our donations, recipient’s database, and good working relationships with others in this field. Collaboration and thinking outside the box have been critical to our success!
We have accomplished a lot, but there is much more to do, and unfortunately, that needs to be funded.”
The lockdown showcased one very important thing, that funding charities is the best way to give back in South Africa. The charities of our country are what kept it alive during the hard lockdown. They are the backbone of support and any aid you are able to give, would be put to good use in their hands.
NOAH CAN are working to establish a system that will uplift those they work with. Through their accountable bookkeeping and record keeping, they feel that people would be very comfortable to contribute, know exactly where the funding would go.
These are the kinds of donations we are hoping to get:
- Emergency food relief sadly is still needed so non-perishable food or funds to purchase food items,
- Refreshments for community meetings and workshops – can be vouchers for supermarkets, restaurant gift cards or funds,
- Printer ink and paper for handouts, flyers, and workshop documentation – or a credit at a printing shop nearby,
- Toys for the children in our area who will not be getting anything for Christmas this year,
- Stationary for children whose parents cannot afford to purchase it for the 2021 school year,
- Support for hosting a website to create an online hub for small businesses and micro-traders
These give some idea of what we could use, but ideas for donations of things we have not thought of yet are welcome.
We are in the process of registering as a Public Benefit Organisation – the lowest level of being regulated so we can open a bank account and issue our own Section 18a Tax Certificates. Currently, The Angel Network assists us with that.
Until then, we have 3 methods of receiving funds:
- Wallet Doc for safe and secure card payments.
or donate via EFT:
- LHRA (Lower Houghton Ratepayers Association)
Nedbank
1916 034 543
Ref: NOAH CAN
Please send proof of payment to: [email protected] - The Angel Network
FNB
6272 6312 391
Ref: NOAH CAN
Please send proof of payment to [email protected]
* receive Section 18A tax certificate
We can be reached via email at [email protected], Facebook at NOAH CAN Facebook or phone on 072 236 2712 for Emily Wellman directly.
These are their successes to date and the homes in which they have made a difference.
Sources: Website Submission
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