Community Outreach - Community of Heideveld

An introduction to the Community of Heideveld Arise’s outreach work takes places in the community of Heideveld – a township area on the Cape Flats, about 20km from Cape Town city.  Swathes of families were resettled here in the 1960s after the apartheid government forcibly removed them from District Six, an area much nearer to the city and public amenities.  Forty years later, Heideveld is a community that has much to like about it – people are very neighbourly, there is a strong resourcefulness and weddings and other celebrations are marvellous affairs.

However, there is a darker side.  ‘Tik’ or crystal meth is rampant; alcohol abuse, sexual abuse, gangsterism and unemployment are all unwanted brush strokes on this communities’ canvas.  Similarly, the schools are very poor, with huge classes, morale is often low and staff are not always trained adequately.  There is massive need from more housing – scores of families make do in small wendy houses (wooden shed like structures) put on the yard of another house. The net result is a lot of broken families with many, many vulnerable children.

Arise believed that caring for children at risk was an intrinsic part of any ministry in Heideveld.  It allows our leaders to identify children that might need other forms of assistance. The longer we work in Heideveld, the more we see the scale of the communities needs. We are increasingly referring children who need abuse counselling after rape or other forms of sexual abuse; we encounter many who are struggling with absent parents, either because of imprisonment, separation or death; many of our children have parents who are addicted to drug or alcohol. By providing extra-mural activities, through Kids Club, Junior Club, Homework club and other camps and day trips, Arise is inviting children into relationship with God, then with one another.  We believe that with God’s grace, this will slowly bring about a transformed community.