‘I can see spiritually our people are getting poorer’

Elsa Van Der Merwe runs a campaign to provide clothes to the homeless in Sutherland in the Northern Cape.

She receives clothes from good Samaritans across the country. The project has been running since 2012 with 12 other women.

Van Der Merwe urges people to use all the opportunities that have been afforded to them.

“What is very exciting to me is when I see previously disadvantaged people get good jobs and they can take good care of their families. Many people think they can’t reach and accomplish their dreams. They don’t use all the opportunities that have been afforded to them. We offer home management courses and they are not keen to attend – even though the course is six weeks.”

She says a major problem in our country is safety.

“The other problem we have is safety. We are not safe in our town anymore. Drugs and alcohol is a huge concern and drug lords are in our town. They make it difficult for us – previously it was very safe.”

She also urges young people to have determination.

“I can see spiritually our people are getting poorer. If a crisis arises then we don’t know how to handle it. There must be crisis management because it is very important. Young people don’t have the determination. They blame the government if they can’t get anything, but it doesn’t work like that. You must provide for yourself.”

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