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AKWAPATA non-profit organisation scooped an award at the annual Young Achievers Awards, held at the Durban ICC last Saturday.
The Eyentuthuko Foundation won in the Community Project Development category.
Founder of the foundation Thembisile Khuzwayo said she was surprised when her organisation was nominated earlier this year but she said she is very grateful and honoured to have received this award.
“I have been helping the community for a long time but only registered my non-profit organisation in October last year.
“When I was told that I had been nominated, and that I had gotten into the top three, I was so excited and shocked at the same time because I did not know that people were seeing what I was doing.
“This award means a lot to me —it shows that the job that I am doing for the community is not going unnoticed. The children that I am working with will also be encouraged by this award and push themselves to work hard and become better people for the future.
“I am hoping that this award will also open doors for us to get the funding we need. I want to grow this organisation so that I will be able to help people outside KwaPata,” she said.
Khuzwayo said her organisation aims to encourage children to complete their education and also raise awareness on social ills that are affecting the children and the youth.
She said their focus is primarily on children that have been convicted of crimes, school drop-outs, and those who have talents in arts but who do not perform well in school academically.
“One day I want to have a development centre for these children where they can advance their skills and change their lives.
“We want them to be given an opportunity and another chance in life to do good things.
“We would also like the community to get involved because we can not do this on our own — we need to work together,” Khuzwayo ended.
