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The house that Otto Built by ACDP
A couple of months ago, Cyril Khanyisani Mvuni of the ACDP KZN Parliamentary and Constituency office of Hon Jo-Ann Downs (ACDP MPL) was really frustrated. He had been trying to get the council for ward 96 to sort out some houses that had been destroyed by floods. After meetings with the councillor (Godfrey Maphumulo), disaster management (Nxumalo Mkhwanaze), the mayor of the metro: (Mr Nxumalo). It was clear that no body was willing to help. He had resorted to trying to get the media involved and after a long struggle, the MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (MEC Nomusa Dube) came to meet with the people and brought food. That was the sum total of what those elected to help the people did. After meeting with the community, Cyril promised he would do something. He spoke to Let Us Work, an NGO that was started out of the same office. In the meantime Otto de Kat (affectionately known as Otto the Cat) had been setting up an organization from Holland, called Tlntd (Talented). Tlntd would be helping teach practical skills like carpentry, plumbing , building etc through a type of apprenticeship program. An expert from Holland, would pay for their costs to come to South Africa, and work with someone who wanted that particular skill over a period of about a month, to impart their talent. When Let US Work, who runs business start up training, told Otto about this situation. He was very keen to help. Otto is a skilled carpenter and he organized a Dutch hardware company (BOUW MAART) to come and help build the houses. Cherie Richardson, who is the office manager for Jo-Ann’s offices, was tasked with logistical arrangements in South Africa, Cyril Mvuni arranged with the community that the two people who were in the worst situation would be helped first, and he arranged community volunteers, while Otto arranged the logistics, tools and workers from Holland. TK Zama, Keith Downs and Oupa Luthuli helped transport and translate, liaise with the community and organize materials. Together they arranged a team of some skilled workers, some who would learn new skills, and community volunteers to build two houses. One was for an elderly couple. Reginald was left blind after an industrial accident, and his wife Gladys suffers from a mental disorder (likely Alzheimer’s). When the floods damaged their home, leaving them with crumbling walls and no roof, they were unable to rebuild. They were left helpless and exposed. The second house, was built for a family of 7, headed by a Gogo, living in a mud structure, damaged by floods, that would fall at any moment. Gladys and Reginald were sleeping on a bed made of old wood, with scorpions living in the cracks, with no other furniture. Otto decided that building them a home would not be enough. They needed some more basics. Operation Bobbi Bear sourced a brand new bed, Charlene’s (an antique shop in Warner Beach) donated a table and couches, Keith Downs donated a “telephone table” for Reginald to eat at, and toti cares donated bedding and kitchenware. There were volunteers from South Africa, Holland, Belgium, and Zimbabwe. Everything came together in a multi-national effort, with help from NGO’s and businesses, and now two families have new homes, just in time for the winter. We have done what government wouldn’t, as a team. ACDP, Let's Fix this! Working together for a Shared future. — at Durban Adams Mission. (near Durban Adams Mission)
A couple of months ago, Cyril Khanyisani Mvuni of the ACDP KZN Parliamentary and Constituency office of Hon Jo-Ann Downs (ACDP MPL) was really frustrated. He had been trying to get the council for ward 96 to sort out some houses that had been destroyed by floods. After meetings with the councillor (Godfrey Maphumulo), disaster management (Nxumalo Mkhwanaze), the mayor of the metro: (Mr Nxumalo). It was clear that no body was willing to help. He had resorted to trying to get the media involved and after a long struggle, the MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (MEC Nomusa Dube) came to meet with the people and brought food. That was the sum total of what those elected to help the people did. After meeting with the community, Cyril promised he would do something. He spoke to Let Us Work, an NGO that was started out of the same office. In the meantime Otto de Kat (affectionately known as Otto the Cat) had been setting up an organization from Holland, called Tlntd (Talented). Tlntd would be helping teach practical skills like carpentry, plumbing , building etc through a type of apprenticeship program. An expert from Holland, would pay for their costs to come to South Africa, and work with someone who wanted that particular skill over a period of about a month, to impart their talent. When Let US Work, who runs business start up training, told Otto about this situation. He was very keen to help. Otto is a skilled carpenter and he organized a Dutch hardware company (BOUW MAART) to come and help build the houses. Cherie Richardson, who is the office manager for Jo-Ann’s offices, was tasked with logistical arrangements in South Africa, Cyril Mvuni arranged with the community that the two people who were in the worst situation would be helped first, and he arranged community volunteers, while Otto arranged the logistics, tools and workers from Holland. TK Zama, Keith Downs and Oupa Luthuli helped transport and translate, liaise with the community and organize materials. Together they arranged a team of some skilled workers, some who would learn new skills, and community volunteers to build two houses. One was for an elderly couple. Reginald was left blind after an industrial accident, and his wife Gladys suffers from a mental disorder (likely Alzheimer’s). When the floods damaged their home, leaving them with crumbling walls and no roof, they were unable to rebuild. They were left helpless and exposed. The second house, was built for a family of 7, headed by a Gogo, living in a mud structure, damaged by floods, that would fall at any moment. Gladys and Reginald were sleeping on a bed made of old wood, with scorpions living in the cracks, with no other furniture. Otto decided that building them a home would not be enough. They needed some more basics. Operation Bobbi Bear sourced a brand new bed, Charlene’s (an antique shop in Warner Beach) donated a table and couches, Keith Downs donated a “telephone table” for Reginald to eat at, and toti cares donated bedding and kitchenware. There were volunteers from South Africa, Holland, Belgium, and Zimbabwe. Everything came together in a multi-national effort, with help from NGO’s and businesses, and now two families have new homes, just in time for the winter. We have done what government wouldn’t, as a team. ACDP, Let's Fix this! Working together for a Shared future. — at Durban Adams Mission. (near Durban Adams Mission)
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