2021 brings some exciting challenges for LIV Lukhanyiso. We will be focusing on three main projects: our Land Use Rights process which was delayed due to COVID-19; our community outreach programmes and preparing for our first building project once our land use rights process has been completed.
LAND USE RIGHTS
Our objectives for this year and 2022 will be to complete the environmental impact assessment, specialist studies, architectural and spatial planning as well as all legal proceedings with regards to the land parcel that was donated to us. The projected timeline for this is 18 months. We are delighted to have town planners, architects and land surveyors working alongside us to provide professional insight to the process. Completing this process within our timeline will allow us to move to the next phase of building a much needed education facility in our city.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
There are three main components to our community outreach programmes: nutrition, education and holistic wellbeing.
Nutrition
In 2021, we will be continuing with our food parcel project, providing food for our partners who work with young children in care facilities and Early Childhood Development centres in need. We will also be continuing with our partnership with Headstart Kids, providing Micronutrient supplements for our children.
Education
The school closures in 2020 have had a devastating effect in our community. One of the biggest needs was providing adequate educational support to children who were unable to go to school. We did this by providing reading books, puzzles and other educational supplies. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on education are still rife. Our objective for this year is to continue to bridge the gap, where we can, by providing basic educational supplies and tutoring to the children.
Holistic Wellbeing
Many of the children in our care have come from extremely challenging backgrounds; however, they do not have access to adequate mental health care and life skills programmes. Through a partnership with Rhodes University, one of our objectives this year is to begin a pilot project where we run group therapy sessions and life skills workshops, to equip the children with vital tools to positively engage within the circumstances in which they find themselves.
