To provide deeper insight into the daily operations, challenges, and achievements of the Dullstroom Community Centre (DCC), we present a report from Simphiwe Skhosana, the Location Manager of the DCC.

As a trained registered counsellor and a dedicated leader within the Sakhelwe community, Simphiwe has played a crucial role in expanding and improving the centre’s services over the years.

This report offers a firsthand perspective on the growing attendance, staff dedication, feeding programme, educational support, counselling services, and various community projects that make the DCC a lifeline for underprivileged children, elderly and famlies. It also highlights the impact of past donations and the continued need for support to sustain and expand these vital initiatives.

Facility Manager Report - July 2025

Increased attendance

The Dullstroom Community Centre (DCC) first opened its doors in 2013, initially serving between 10 and 30 children each day. At the time, the centre was located in town, requiring children to walk long distances from their schools. However, after relocating to the old clinic building within the Sakhelwe Township—closer to both the schools and the community— attendance grew significantly. Today, the DCC welcomes up to 250 children daily, providing them with a safe and supportive environment.

Community Centre Facilitators

We are a small but dedicated staff team of young men and women who all bring different skills to the training and care of the children. We have signed a Mission Statement indicating that KINDNESS is at the core of our practices.

Feeding Schemes

When the centre first opened, each child was provided with a single sandwich per day for sustenance. However, in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the DCC —together with the Mackenzie Foundation, Helping Hands Charity, Bryte Insurance, and the generous local community—formed a committee to provide food relief. This initiative successfully fed 150 families per week, operating directly from the DCC. Inspired by this effort, we applied to the Food Forward feeding scheme, which now donates fresh food to us each week. As a result, we are able to cook three hot meals per week for the children, while also preparing meals for 45 elderly community members. On the remaining two days, the children receive sandwiches. To support vulnerable elderly residents during the December school closure, food parcels are distributed to ensure they have enough to sustain them. Additionally, Helping Hands Charity generously funds a cook to prepare these meals. For some of the children, this is the only meal they receive that day.

Homework & School projects

Our primary goal at the centre is to help the children improve academically. We prioritise their schoolwork and provide additional support to those struggling with reading and writing. We take great pride when students return to show us their improved report cards at the end of each term. On-site computers assist with their projects, such as designing posters, bridges, and buildings. The children also use our laptops for research and our mini-library as a resource to support their schoolwork.

Counselling & awareness campaigns

We offer free counselling services to both children and adults within the broader community. These sessions are conducted individually and in groups, addressing a range of societal challenges faced by the Sakhelwe community. Through our awareness programmes, we provide crucial information on important issues such as teenage pregnancy, sexual violence, and pornography. Additionally, our self-awareness workshops and study tips help equip young people with essential life skills.

Counselling & Awareness Campaigns

This project began in 2015 to support disadvantaged girls with essential Dignity Packs, which include sanitary pads, deodorant, and soap. These packs are provided to all school-going girls in the community, not just those who attend the centre. We are grateful for the support of the Caring for Girls Organisation and Twinkle Little Sisters, who help us distribute these packs. Additionally, Dr. Mthnumye from Belfast and the Seach family have been instrumental in sustaining this important initiative.

The Sanitary Pads Project

Helping Hands is a charity run by caring residents in Dullstroom. They have been invaluable in assisting the DCC with day-to-day on-the-ground advice, running the accounts, being a conduit for payment and stepping in when required.

Helping Hands

At the community centre, we’re committed to helping individuals take the next step in their careers and education. One of our facilitators at the centre has started an assistance programme providing hands-on support with resume writing, cover letters, and interview preparation to help job seekers present their best selves to employers. For those looking to further their education, our university application assistance programme helps students navigate the often-overwhelming application process.

Boys & Men Initiative

We recently introduced an initiative at the DCC aimed at guiding young boys through the transition into manhood with dignity, responsibility, and self-respect. This programme creates a safe and open space where boys can engage with positive male role models from the community - men who have faced similar challenges and can offer real, lived wisdom.

At our recent gathering, we were honoured to welcome local leaders, including policemen and a representative from FAMSA, who shared their personal journeys. They spoke candidly about their family backgrounds, the struggles they faced as teenagers, and the choices that helped them overcome obstacles. These honest and inspiring stories resonated deeply, showing the boys that they are not alone in their experiences.

A key focus of the discussion was what it truly means to be a man—embracing responsibility, building healthy relationships, understanding the role of fatherhood, and steering clear of destructive behaviours like addiction to pornography and reckless decision-making. These conversations are crucial, as many young boys lack strong male figures in their lives to offer guidance and encouragement.

Our goal is to continue hosting programmes like this throughout the year, reinforcing the message that there are men in the community who genuinely care about their future. We want these boys to know they have mentors to turn to— men who will listen, support, and help shape them into strong, respectful, and purpose-driven individuals.

Donations

Over the years, we have been fortunate to receive generous donations from a variety of sources, each of which has made a significant impact on the lives of those we serve. For instance, a local charity provided 100 pairs of school shoes, ensuring that children from disadvantaged families have proper footwear to attend school with dignity. TRAC N4 donated blankets, which we distributed to elderly residents of Sakhelwe, offering them warmth and comfort during the colder months. Additionally, a local elderly woman lovingly knitted warm jerseys, further contributing to the wellbeing of the community.

We’ve also received much-needed support from companies such as Exxaro Mining, who donated toys and school supplies, helping to create a more engaging and educational environment for the children. Helping Hands generously provided kitchen equipment, enabling us to improve our feeding programme. Judge Weiner donated wool for knitting projects, fostering creativity and skill development among the children. Other donations have included fabrics, sewing machines, art materials, televisions, desks, printing machines, and much of the furniture—many of which were kindly provided by the friends and colleagues of the Mackenzie family.

These contributions have not only helped us meet the basic needs of our children but have also enriched their educational experiences, provided comfort, and empowered the community to build a brighter future.

Looking Ahead

As we move forward, we remain committed to expanding our services and reaching more children in need. Our new community centre project represents a significant milestone in our journey, and we’re excited about the possibilities it will bring for an enhanced environment and expanded programs.

We continue to seek partnerships and support from individuals and organisations who share our vision of empowering young people through education, care, and community support. Every contribution, whether financial, in-kind, or through volunteering, makes a tangible difference in the lives of the children and families we serve.

Conclusion

The Dullstroom Community Centre continues to be a beacon of hope and support in the Sakhelwe community. Through our comprehensive programs, dedicated staff, and generous supporters, we are making a real difference in the lives of disadvantaged children and their families.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our donors, volunteers, and community partners who make this work possible. Together, we are building a stronger, more resilient community where every child has the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential.

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Report prepared by Simphiwe Skhosana, Facility Manager
Dullstroom Community Centre
July 2024