{"id":158868,"date":"2017-08-14T12:40:00","date_gmt":"2017-08-14T10:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/158868\/a-decade-of-caring\/"},"modified":"2017-08-14T18:57:03","modified_gmt":"2017-08-14T16:57:03","slug":"a-decade-of-caring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2017\/08\/14\/a-decade-of-caring\/","title":{"rendered":"A decade of caring"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation South Africa celebrated a decade of caring when they recently held their Winter Relief Distribution event at the Primrose Police Station.<\/p>\n

Community members from the Makause, Delport and Marathon informal settlements gathered at the police station for the programme.<\/p>

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\u201cEvery year, we have the Winter Relief Distribution event at which we distribute two 20kg bags of rice, soup and shoes to families,\u201d said the foundation\u2019s deputy chairperson, Cecilia Cheng.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have been doing this for the past 10 years, having started in 2007.<\/p>

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\u201cOur work with the communities doesn\u2019t end with the distributions at this event – we work with these families and visit them on a regular basis throughout the year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe go to the different areas and train people how to look after their family members.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe also educate them on ways to care for other community members, both young and old.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is important to give people skills.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Cheng said although the foundation has only been active in South Africa for 10 years, it has been in operation for 50 years.<\/p>\n

\u201cTaiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation is a NGO and NPO that was established in 1966,\u201d said Cheng.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe operate in 97 countries across the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since the inception of the foundation in South Africa, they have been working well and closely with the Primrose SAPS.<\/p>\n

The Primrose SAPS acting station commander, Lt Col Mbhazima Maswanganyi, was present at the distribution.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe welcome and appreciate this initiative,\u201d said Maswanganyi.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are assisting us with solving the social problems which enables us to focus on the crime.<\/p>\n

\u201cSuch initiatives bring positivity to the communities which results in community members caring for each other more.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen there is positivity within a community, it becomes easier for us to police them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Maswanganyi said he hopes to have a long and fruitful relationship with the foundation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe really appreciate what they are doing and look forward to working with them,\u201d said Maswanganyi.<\/p>\n