From a small church hall around the corner, one can hear the raucous laughter of vibrant youngsters and melodious saxophone tunes as it echoes through the streets.
It is here, at the V.G.K Church, that the community of Idas Valley has rediscovered its true heartbeat.
The church is home to the Agape Community Empowerment (ACE) programme that aims to uplift community members from all walks of life.
ACE was originally the brainchild of Pastor Danny Bock. Bock was familiar with the struggles children and their parents in Idas Valley face daily.
He soon realised the potential of his congregation to impact the community at large and diligently followed this calling.
Today, five years later, ACE has grown into a multifaceted project that has branched out to become a “beacon of hope” for a community crippled by socio-economic challenges.
Laykin Okkers (3) at the community centre playing in the classroom. PHOTO: Nicolette van Schalkwyk.
The face of Calvyn Heynes, who currently heads up the programme, lights up as he talks about the aim of the project.
“We want to build the community, we want to build skills and we want to build capacity.”
To him, it is not about rich or poor; black or white, he says. It is about compassion. It is about the “reconstruction of humanity”.
“We have an immense responsibility towards our community. We want to be a safe haven for people.”
With this in mind, the project found its feet in 2013. It was in the small and cramped classrooms of the V.G.K Church that ACE came to see the first fruit of its two-legged programme which included both computer and music training.
It is not about rich or poor; black or white. It is about compassion. It is about the reconstruction of humanity
After a generous donation of instruments such as saxophones from Sweden and drums and keyboards from other donors, the music programme finally found its feet with about 30 students currently enrolled.
The ACE-programme also offers piano lessons to children within the community. PHOTO: Nicolette van Schalkwyk
Carlynne von Willigh (9), who plays piano at the music school, struggles to contain her excitement as she talks about the project.
“I come here every Saturday morning because I really love the music school. They have taught me so much in the last two years.”
With a growing number of students, Pastor Bock had the desire to speak to other sectors in the community.
As a result, the Pre-School Development Programme came to be – a project that provides schooling for about 30 children.
Heynes’ whole demeanour changes when he talks about “his children”.
“We identify a child when he is still very young and then we empower him, even when he is older. It is all part of our holistic approach.”
For the Pre-School Development Programme to function at its best, the input of the community is vital. Two community teachers and one student currently form the teacher corps.
One of the individuals who pours her heart and soul into the project, is Coleen van Rensburg, a teacher at the development centre.
She shifts uncomfortably as she talks about the socio-economic problems plaguing these children.
“There’s a lot of poverty in our community, you know. The unemployment rate is high,” she says while walking to the classroom where 28 little faces are all vigorously searching for a place on the mat.
“He is my little baby,” she says, pointing to the youngest boy in the class, as if he was her own.
As Heynes explains: “We can’t change a whole community. But you can change a family. By changing the child’s thoughts and his parents’ attitude, you can give hope.”
ACE has also expanded to include the Women’s Development Programme where a ten week training course is offered after which women are provided with the basic equipment to clean houses or to start their own cleaning company.
The last leg of the ACE-programme is specifically aimed at elderly citizens who have to visit the hospital at least once a month. The ACE-community has taken it upon them to provide these patients with transport and beverages.
Heynes continuously emphasise the importance of this integrated approach.
“If you want to change a community, you have to change all its generations.”
“With what eyes do we see? With what ears do we hear? With what hands do we give? We have to use these senses to identify the needs in our society.”