(English below)
Isibindi is ’n NPC wat tussen 2013-2020 bekend gestaan het as ECHO Kaap en deel was van Echo jeug ontwikkeling familie wat oorspronklik in Pretoria ontstaan het - Ons het in 2020 ‘n NPC gestig wat spesifiek fokus op die projekte in die Kaap. Echo het sedert 2001 kommunes voorsien waar jongmense in nood (uit kinderhuise, rehabilitasie sentrums, die straat ens.) saam met jong werkendes in ’n huis kan intrek en so deel word van ’n ondersteunende gemeenskap. Suid-Afrika se kinderwet maak net voorsiening vir kinders onder 18 – daarna moet hulle vir hulleself sorg – en daarom is die nood vir sulke huise gróót. Isibindi bestaan uit 4 huise vir jong mense in nood (2 in Tableview, 1 in Ysterplaat en 1 in Stellenbosch), en ook ‘n nasorg sentrum in Ysterplaat wat funksioneer sedert Mei 2018. Daar bly 5 tot 8 jongmense in nood tussen die ouderdom van 18 en 25 in die huise en die nasorg bestaan uit kwesbare kinders tussen die ouderdom van 10 en 18. Ons probeer in die kommunes ’n tipe ‘intentional community’-leefstyl kweek. Dit beteken maar net dat ons mense laat saambly wat nooit in die normale gang van die lewe saam in ’n huis sou opeindig nie. Wanneer hulle wel saambly, besef hulle hulle kan eintlik nogal baie by mekaar leer. Die kommunes bestaan gewoonlik uit twee groepe mense wat met twee (aanvanklik uiteenlopende) motiewe deel word van die gemeenskap:
1) Die een groep kom klop aan omdat hulle geen ondersteuningsbasis het nie en hulp soek.
2) Die ander omdat hulle opgewonde is oor dié alternatiewe manier van leef en die geleentheid om ’n bydrae te lewer. Keer op keer sien ons dat dié in nood, wat aanvanklik net hulp wou hê, besef hulle kan ander ook help en dat dié wat gedink het hulle kom net help, besef hulle het eintlik baie om te leer. Ons visie: Isibindi is daarop gemik om plekke en ruimtes te skep waar jeug met moeilike agtergrond en omstandighede deel kan raak van 'n gemeenskap en deel kan voel van ‘n familie waar elkeen hulle doel en passie met bravade kan vind. Ons streef daarna om 'n familie met ISIBINDI te wees.
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Isibindi is an NPC that was known as ECHO Cape town between 2013-2020 and was part of the Echo youth development family that originally originated in Pretoria - In 2020 we established an NPC that specifically focuses on the projects in the Cape town. Since 2001, Echo has provided communes where young people in need (from orphanages, rehabilitation centers, the street, etc.) can move into a house with young working adults and thus become part of a supportive community. The South Africa's Children's Act only provides shelter for children under 18 - after that they have to take care of themselves - and therefore the need for such homes is immense. Isibindi consists of 4 houses for young people in need (2 in Tableview, 1 in Ysterplaat and 1 in Stellenbosch), and also an aftercare center in Ysterplaat that has been operating since May 2018. There are 5 to 8 young people in need between the ages of 18 and 25 in the homes and the aftercare consists of 20 vulnerable children between the ages of 10 and 18. We try to cultivate a type of ‘intentional community’ lifestyle in the communes. This just means that we let people stay together who would normally never end up in a house together. When they do stay together, they realize they can actually learn quite a lot from each other. The communes usually consist of two groups of people who become part of the community with two (initially divergent) motives:
1) The one group comes knocking because they have no support base and seek help.
2) The others because they are excited about this alternative way of life and the opportunity to make a contribution. Time and time again we see that those in need, who initially only wanted help, realize that they can help others as well and that those who thought they were just coming to help realize that they actually have a lot to learn. You are always welcome to come and give us a visit. Our vision: Isibindi aims to create places and spaces where youth from difficult or disadvantaged backgrounds can feel a part of a community and from this courageously find their purpose and passion. We strive to be a family with ISIBINDI.
