Community Enrichment and Welfare Projects in Ocean View, Cape Town
Founded in April 2019, Mutheera’s Projects runs several projects to support the more vulnerable members of their community, such as children and the elderly, and encourage kinship and collaboration between groups to build community spirit. Based in Ocean View, Cape Town, Mutheera and Ashraf Rademeyer coordinate all of these projects, while members of their Youth Club assist in the cooking and with the food deliveries throughout their neighbourhood.
“I know the struggle all too well. I’ve learned with my time running my soup kitchen that a lot of us struggle behind closed doors. I have been blessed to be able to do what I do and blessed even more with amazing individuals who support my passion, whom I’m sincerely grateful to. COVID-19 worsened many of our households, but I can honestly say that our community has been so amazing in assisting each other in so many ways. No matter the religion, race or gender, my wish is to do as much as I can to help a neighbour following the example my parents set. For the love of the community” – Mutheera Rademeyer
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Elderly Feeding Scheme
The Elderly Feeding Scheme delivers hot home-cooked meals to the doors of 84 elderly who are unable to make their way to the Soup Kitchen. This number is steadily growing as new requests for assistance are received daily
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Forever Young Seniors Club
This very special group of approximately 80 elders meet once a week for activities, a hot meal and socialising. They are also treated to a monthly trip to the seaside nature reserve of Soetwater
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Soup Kitchen
The Soup Kitchen provides hot meals to approximately 345 children and adults who struggle financially
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Bos Kinnes – All-Female Environmental Group
ARKYS Outreach’s Chacma Champions would like to officially introduce BOS KINNES – the all-female environmental group from Ocean View. Spear-headed by Mutheera Rademeyer, these five young teenagers and three Forever Young seniors are breaking the mould of environmental custodianship in their community. This week’s programme was a rollercoaster of experiences resulting in a strong and courageous group of women, who are ready to be “Brave towards the Natural”. We look forward to creating a network of support for these women as they build their community conservation initiative.
The Cape Peninsula has been home to the Mighty Chacma for over a million years, making them the perfect species to act as a guide as we explored the connectivity of the patchwork habitats making up the Table Mountain National Park. With each day dedicated to studying the intricacies of one of these habitats, we also examined our impacts on them and discussed various mitigation and prevention strategies that the group could implement in their community.
We considered the perceptions and fears of the unknown and how that can influence human behaviour, specifically (but not exclusively) in relation to the Cape chacma baboon. Focusing rather on their role as ecosystem engineers and picking apart what makes us feel afraid of these sentient animals, revealed that many encounters were third-hand accounts, or had been made scary due to the lack of understanding of the motives of these creatures. The combination of urban attractant minimisation, compassion and a deeper knowledge of behaviour will assist in reducing the acts of conflict so many communities are currently executing against the wildlife sharing this south-western tip of Africa.
Keep an eye open for announcements about this group’s projects (such as community clean-ups, miniSASS, alien clearing, planting of locally indigenous fynbos etc). We are incredibly excited to see this group become part of Mutheera’s Projects, and we look forward to sharing updates on their progress. A massive thank you to Table Mountain Fund and Nature Connect for making this programme possible with their generous funding, and to Mutheera’s Projects and the Forever Young Seniors Club for their support and involvement in the programme.
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Special Public Holiday Programmes
“If you want to see a child’s full potential, give them the platform to shine. There is a lot of hope for our beloved community, we just need to invest in our youth and show more compassion. Sport is just one way of mending our community” – Mutheera Rademeyer
The Special Public Holiday Programmes focuses on creating awareness around the topic highlighted by the named holiday and supporting those groups who would benefit from it I.e.: Women’s Day or Youth Day. These events are capped at 150 people, on a first-come-first-serve basis
“Strengthening family bonds and ultimately building our community” – Mutheera Rademeyer
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After-School Homework Club
The After-School Homework Club aims to provide extra help to 39 children who are struggling at school
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Holiday Club Programme
The Holiday Club Programme works to accommodate and care for 150 children that are at home during the school holidays
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Youth Club
“Empowering our future, I’m purely amazed at their willingness and passion to assist” – Mutheera Rademeyer
The Youth Club works with 18 local teenagers, encouraging them in their community work and generating environmental awareness
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Christmas Day Cooking and Special Deliveries
“If you want to be reminded of what true love is, spend it with the mothers of our community. Their inspiring stories and infectious laughs give hope for a better tomorrow, if only we can follow their example” – Mutheera Rademeyer
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Ocean View Community Matric Ball
In just three weeks, the community of Ocean View rallied to support and celebrate their Matriculants of 2021. It started as an idea of Mutheera’s, to give the students of Ocean View High School an experience that they would never forget and it ended as magical day of which everyone involved could be proud. Community members and organisations ensured that all of the students felt appreciated and special by providing outfits and accessories, transport, nail technicians, hairdressers, make-up artists, decorations, catering, entertainment, photographers and a beautiful venue. Families came out in support, cheering on as the students walked the red carpet, and volunteers ensured the safe running of the whole event. Starting with the Red Carpet Event, outside the Ocean View Library, students were then driven to the Rocklands Centre for the main event. Against a backdrop of sheer mountain cliffs, and with a panoramic view of False Bay, these students danced the night away to the beats and melodies of the awesome local entertainment
The special event was detailed in a Daily Voice Article and an article by Die Son
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Mutheera’s Projects is recognised for their unwavering dedication to their community and founder, Mutheera Rademeyer, is celebrated for her compassionate leadership and care
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Future Projects
- A walk-in library for both adults and children
- Social programmes for teenagers and young adults; as well as those to highlight and educate about gender-based violence, drug awareness and other social ills
- Sport projects to promote an active, healthy lifestyle among children
- Skills programmes to contribute to more positive community members
Collaborations
Ocean View Community Police Forum
Onse Huisie
Sponsors
Noorul Islam Mosque Welfare Committee
CareCompany
In2Food
My Father’s House
ARKYS Outreach Project Coordinators: Sally Sivewright and Megan Webster