Ramphele urges the youth to turn rubbish into business
ALEXANDRA - Filth and grime in Alexandra can be huge employment and income generating potentials to be exploited by the residents.
Filth and grime in Alexandra are huge job and income generating potentials to be exploited by the residents.
“Everyday thousands of youth and the unemployed in this impoverished settlement roam the streets aimlessly or stand at corners searching for elusive jobs. In the process they discard all sorts of waste to rubbish already piled up at their door steps without realising the potential ‘gold’ from this rubbish,” argues Maphele Ramphele.
This point was made by Agang President Mamphele Ramphele during her visit to the Phutaditjaba Community Centre on 17th Avenue in Alexandra. The centre is sponsored by Afrika Tikkum, a non-governmental organisation which provides education, health and social services to children, youths and the elderly. It has an early childhood and development unit, library, computer unit, enclosed sports and workshop facilities. As a ‘development activist’, Ramphele commended the centre’s holistic model for community development and called for it to be rolled out to all needy communities in South Africa. “This model is close to my heart as it is practical, cost effective, yields tangible results. It is able to empower all sections of society from children, youths and adults from a one stop centre perspective,” Ramphele said.
She expressed concern that despite the positives of the centre’s development model, those in authority don’t seem to recognise nor have the desire to actively promote good development initiatives. “The rubbish and filth characterising Alexandra reflects badly on local leadership. It shows their lack of desire to emancipate the residents for as long as there is nothing personal for them to benefit by improving living conditions of the residents. Instead, the community should to take their destiny into their own hands by converting the filth into various income options,” she advised. Ramphele urged them to group themselves into zones and develop proposals for different income generating projects for waste disposal and management. She further added that they would then seek private sector partnership for expert advise, training and funding support. She said it will generate employment, sustainable income and develop entrepreneurs among the thousands of youths who currently resort to crime for survival.
