Community Engagement done in Zanspruit at Emlanjeni Community Centre

1. Community Engagement Reflection
As students of the foundation programme we were meant to get into social groups, as we
joined the groups I joined into the Foodies group which was created by Paula-Marie who is a
foundation student too. In this group our main purpose is to share cooking recipes and share
amongst each other the good food we prepare. During our first meeting we were welcomed
with a great meal where a lot was prepared for the members. This was where the idea of
merging the community engagement with our social group. We later set on a couple of
meeting brain-storming ideas of what we need to do to raise money, so what we did was that
every member contributed a certain amount to contribute to what was going to be bought to
raise funds. An idea of a donut for a smile was introduced to us where we would be giving out
doughnuts to the people who are donating some money, food and other objects. This was
indeed a huge success as me managed to raise up R800 within the few ours we spent sitting
at the Legotla square on the Monash campus.
Emthonjeni community centre is a place where the community come to get help with food
and personal life experiences. This institution was founded by two ladies who gave us a tour
of the place showing us where people come for their extra computer and literacy skills ,the
clinic where the elderly came to collect their medication, the sowing facilities, the bakery and
the kitchen where the children’s food is prepared. The aim and purpose of this institution is
to assist children who are not being cared for enough by providing them with food and the
basic literacy skills needed for one to live in society.
Our first visit to the institution was on the 26th of August and the second time was on the 01st
of September 2017. We got a chance to bond with the children of the community who were
from many different backgrounds. Some of these children were orphans who were being
taken care of by their elderly grand-parents who were not working and depending on the
pension funds they were receiving on a monthly basis.
This was one very big experience as this taught us to always appreciate what we have as some
people are not able to get the little things we complain about. This is one great life skill which
was instilled in me as it is a good thing to help out people who need help as this builds your
own selfconfidence. Playing with the kids was one great time as most of the people who went

2. there had not seen their siblings in a while so it was a great opportunity to play with these
children.
In the end of the day the children were so happy to have around them elder brothers and
sisters who had given them their un-divided attention and gave them all the fun they needed
as we played soccer with them, a lot of folk games and so many other games.

3. A Donut for a smile Day

4. Emlanjeni Community Centre