Page 103 - SCAT Rural Voice II - 35 Stories for 35 Years

HOW TYPING A CONSTITUTION INSPIRED
mE TO CHANgE pEOpLE’S LIVES
Nashwill Hanekom Youth Worker, Nikiwe Kaunda Irish Embassy, Joanne Harding SCAT Director, Avrill Heine Paralegal, Karen de Waal Board Secretar, Colleen Alexander Juies, Monique Ruiters administrator for SALDA and Seth Tladi SCAT Programme Director.
Jonathan van der Westhuizen conducting a community workshop.
Adam Kotze, community member, in a forum drama workshop on GBV.
AVRIL HEIN WAS ASKED BY A FRIEND TO HELP TYPE THE CONSTITUTION FOR A LOCAL ADVICE OFFICE. HE WAS SO INSPIRED BY WHAT HE READ THAT HE ASKED TO WORK AT THE ADVICE OFFICE FULL-TIME.
I reside in a small town called Graafwater that’s located between Clanwilliam and Lambertsbaai on the West Coast. Graafwater is suitable as a retirement village because it is usually very quiet. It is a very proud village especially when it comes to cleanliness. The streets are often swept, and the litter is picked up to make the town look attractive. When you arrive in Graafwater from Clanwilliam, what people have dubbed ‘ASLA Camp’ is the first thing you come across and when you cross the bridge, to your left you find Graafwater South which is where the houses are. To your right you find Graafwater North which leads to the town.
I grew up on a farm in Kraaifontein, Joostenbergvlakte. Our family then moved from farm to farm. The first was Ruststasie near Malmesbury, the last was De-Hoop and later the neighbouring farm called Smitsvlei. It meant I attended many farm schools. I matriculated from Graafwater High School.
After matric, my cousin approached me to help him at the afterschool centre in Graafwater. He saw my potential and knew what I was capable of. When he left, I was given the job as coordinator of the afterschool centre. I also helped the Service Centre for the elderly with their administration and finances. My love for work dealing with community development grew because I worked with children, young people and the elderly.
Through sport, I met Jonathan Van Der Westhuizen who was in the process of establishing an Advice Office. He asked me to help him type the constitution. As I typed the constitution, I read through it. I was very interested and felt that I wanted to be a part of this setup because I wanted to play a role in people’s lives and try to help change their circumstances.
AVril hein
RuRal Voice ii: 35 stories for 35 years
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YOUTH