When I was asked to write an article my first thought was panic…. “What am I going to write about?” As I pondered this thought I felt that sharing my journey in working with NPO’s and other community projects might be a good place to start.
For a long as I can remember, I have always had a desire to help those who are less fortunate than myself. The challenge was knowing which organizations to join and support.
Many of the projects such as soup kitchens and youth outreach projects was through our churches at the time.
During the school holidays between 2000 and 2003, I joined the Bridgetown Holiday Club under the guidance of Scripture Union in Cape Town. It was very satisfying to be able to be part of the Holiday Clubs as we were able to for a short time share the love of God with children during the day and in the evening with young adults who had a desire to know the love of God.
My involvement in these holiday clubs and camps, allowed me an opportunity to volunteer at the Cape Town YMCA, where we specifically did youth outreach at Pollsmoor Prison. Here we shared the bible teachings with the many juvenile inmates. At the time I was also studying towards a law degree at the University of Stellenbosch but struggled with my studies as my heart desired to study a course in which I could better understand and help others. I eventually stopped my studies and worked more closely as a volunteer at the YMCA.
Through my involvement at the YMCA I was given an opportunity to be part of an exchange program with the New York YMCA. There I was a part of a special program for kids who were on holiday and whose parents had to be at work. What an experience that was. I met some phenomenal people on my journey and I was able to learn so much about myself and others.
When I returned home from my trip to the USA, I threw myself back in my studies, but this time I was able to make the necessary change and pursue a Degree in Health Sciences and Social Services, which I finally completed in 2012.
As life would have it, my journey took many turns had many ups and downs but one thing that remained constant was my desire to participate in activities which assisted the less fortunate in our communities. I was able to achieve this through the various corporate companies whom I worked for over the years. Through my experiences I found that there is a constant hunger amongst our people, not only a physical hunger but also a spiritual hunger and a hunger for genuine unadulterated love and care. For me, this is what humanitarian outreach is all about. It’s not just about providing people with food or clothing but it’s about our intentions, our attitudes, our hearts. It’s about teaching people to help themselves, to value themselves, and to see potential in what they are able to do for themselves.
As the saying goes, “Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day, but teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.”
Through our projects we strive to not only feed people for a day, but to teach them to feed themselves for the long term, while also making a positive impact on themselves and their immediate world
Merle Faku
As a key volunteer, Fundraising Coordinator and new blog contributor, Merle was raised in the northern suburbs of Cape Town, South Africa. In 2009, she moved to Pretoria where she now resides with her husband, Paul and 2 kids. She obtained a BA in Health Sciences and Social Services from the University of SA (UNISA). Over the past 15 years, she has built a career as a Human Resources Practitioner, always having people at the heart of what she does.