CDW unsung heroes
ALEXANDRA - The community development workers [CDW] are the unsung heroes of Alexandra whose work is seldom recognised.
The community development workers [CDW] are the unsung heroes of Alexandra whose work is seldom recognised.
This is because they work in the fringes of formal employment on duties normally associated with the public service. This inadvertently hides the true value of their contribution to service delivery.
1 200 of these workers are in region E with 16 wards and the majority of them work in Alexandra. Portia Sachane, site manager of the programme said despite the recognition, the CDW takes pride in what they do and sought no affirmation. “Our good deeds are measured by those who benefit from them and are confirmed by the constant flow of letters we receive appreciating our services,” she said.
Their work includes providing home-based care to the sick and the elderly where they clean homes, bath, dress, cook and accompany the grannies on pension payout days to protect them from being robbed of their small earnings. Their other work called CommunicaAIDS involves working with those defaulting from HIV/AIDS treatment to restore their hope and nurse and counsel them back to health. This she said, has resulted in many returning from imminent death to thank the CDWs. Sachane said they were most visible to the community through the clean up teams which eliminate rubbish dumps and bushes where people are robbed and raped.
Also, they sweep streets and school yards, maintain school gardens and homes of vulnerable elderly residents. The group is multi talented with artists and sports persons who frequent schools to facilitate baseball games, art sessions, music and dance lessons and to talk to children on topical issues. They partner with the South African Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency [Sanca] and tavern owners on the Phuzawise programme. This is to raise public awareness on the dangers of youth alcohol consumption and drug use like addiction, dropping out of school, teenage pregnancies, HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases and recruitment into criminal gangs. They receive monthly stipends of R500 which is inadequate for their households needs. This has resulted in them opening a creche for their children to get a head start on their education.
Sachane said despite the challenges, they have a low drop out rate signifying the interest CDW has in uplifting their community. Their main hindrance is the occasional delay by government to provide appropriate dressing for their cleaning activities to protect them from diseases.
