COMMUNITY OF MGONGENI

The Mustard Seed Project (MSP) is a small charity working in Africa  to empower the slum community of Mgongeni in order that they may take control of the future of their village. By changing attitudes and beliefs and building confidence it is hoped that the residents will challenge the authorities to provide basic facilities. Giving them the courage to take action rather than waiting for things to change. This is not aid but training, support, leadership, guidance and knowledge that will sustain the community in the future.

 Forty years without any investment left all the basic facilities and the infrastructure on the point of collapse. The rapid increase in the population stretched the services to breaking point. The Government and the Municipal Council made numerous promises to help but did nothing.

Basic living conditions are unacceptable. There is massive overcrowding resulting in substandard housing, inadequate water supply, poor drainage and inadequate sewage disposal. There is no rubbish collection so it is everywhere and encourages rats and other rodents that spread disease. The area floods in the rainy season undermining houses, leaving stagnant water where mosquitoes and other parasites breed. There is chronic poverty made worse by neglect. Many children do not attend school, there is high unemployment and with no benefit system many people live below the breadline. There are no medical facilities so many people die of treatable diseases. Due to HIV AIDS there are many orphans and single parent families and many elderly people have lost their families leaving them to raise grandchildren on very low incomes.

                                      Main road through Mgongeni

Things are changing, people are finding a voice and taking action. They are taking responsibility and seeking to work in partnership with the municipal council. Members of the community have been elected on to local and municipal council committees where they are beginning to have influence. Through their efforts and with support from MSP things are slowly beginning to improve. Large soak-aways have been dug to alleviate the flooding in the rainy seasons. MSP are building a well, security lights have been erected, streetlights are being introduced, the Computer Training centre is open and negotiations are progressing to improve sanitation, drainage and roads.

A Community Based Organisation (CBO) has been set up and registered. It is now negotiating with the Council for investment. The CBO will work in partnership with the Women’s group (MDC), Mustard Seed and other organisations to improve the lives of the community, increase the local economy, improve the services and infrastructure, reduce disease and introduce healthcare.

                                                                                                                    Updated January 2011