The Universal Church’s outreach program, the Stop Suffering Help Centre (SSHC) together with the Department of Local Government.recently introduced a poverty alleviation and skills development project to empower the people of Alexandra in Gauteng.

The project will uplift people who have skills but no jobs and those who make a living by selling goods on street corners. It will also provide training in skills such as sewing, farming and recycling. The project’s first meeting was held at the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God in Alexandra region 2. Pastor Saulo de Oliveira;  responsible for the SSHC’s evangelistic work, told Universal News that the project would focus on resources that are already available in Alexandra. He said that projects such as recycling are ideal for Alexandra as they will clean up the area while bringing money in.

“People should be groomed and trained according to what they are passionate about and the residents should show their  support by buying from local businesses. He said. An official from the Department of Local Government , Christopher Rabali, encouraged the participants to play their role in the implementation of the project as the official and the Church could not achieve anything without the full co-operation of the community.

“We are here not to promise anything to the people of Alexandra, but we are simply saying together we can make a difference. People should be involved in order for this project to run productively and benefit  all People should learn the art of focusing on the solution and not on the problem,”said Mr Rabali. Agnes Ramakgala, 58, from ward in 105 in Roosevelt, has been involved in the recycling project since 1996 but has encountered  difficulties in finding  the relevant organisations to contact. “This meeting offers new hope for the people of Alexandra. It has raised issues that are affecting us and gives us a platform to raise our concerns. Today I have received all the answers to the questions I have asked ever since I have been involved in the recycling business,” said Mrs Ramakgala.

By Nikiwe Titus