City Gives Almost R4 Million to Community Causes

Some 300 000 residents will benefit from this assistance in some way. Organisations apply for the funding and a selection process is followed.

The grants were made at a handover ceremony at the Civic Centre tonight.

The allocations in the different categories are:

• 32 Arts and Culture organisations receives a total of R490 000
• 15 Youth Development R493 000
• 16 Street Adults R320 000
• 7 Gender R256 000
• 30 Early Childhood Development R517 000
• 102 Sport and Recreation clubs R555 000
• 23 Solid Waste R896 000
• A project for Street Children gets R380 000.

The City has endeavoured to spread the amount available as widely as possible to assist the largest number of projects and organisations.

All of the successful applicant organisations now become partners of the City in grassroots development. The financial aid is directed mostly at disadvantaged communities or areas in need of assistance. It aims to stimulate sustainable programmes or increase participation at various levels. It is targeted at poverty, zones of disintegration as well as equity and access.

All the organisations which receive money have to report back regularly on how they spend it and have to submit a detailed report six months afterwards. This is a legal requirement. The new process will start soon after the next Municipal Financial Year begins in July. All organisations will then have another chance to apply for funding.

In the category Solid Waste assistance is given to extend water wise principles, minimise waste and recycle.

At least 12 projects will receive truck loads of municipal compost to help with vegetable growing, food gardens and greening efforts.

In the category of Arts and Culture a variety of programmes will be supported. Some range from African culture, music skills, sewing, visual arts, oral and visual history. Others are for dance, drama and some to raise awareness of crime and drugs.

The project to have an audio library for the blind will assist 14 000 people. The District Six Museum and the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra will also benefit.

Under Street Adults a special pilot project is supported to make 24 hours ablution facilities available on the Grand Parade and it will also
be managed by former homeless people. Some projects will help street people with accommodation and some focus on mothers with children.

Assistance to Youth programmes aims to develop life skills, non-violent conflict resolution skills and after school programmes such as reading
and writing. The Zip Zap Circus, which teaches young people circus skills, will also receive a grant.

Early Childhood Education projects will concentrate on positive parenting, building self esteem and reducing the incidence of child
abuse.

The City also awarded a grant-in-aid to the Empilweni project in Nyanga to assist mentally handicapped children.

Under Gender a number of projects will impact on the reduction of domestic violence and to assist victims of abuse.

Another recipient, the Southern Africa Media and Gender Institute is working towards "changing the mindsets of young men so that they understand the gender concept".

Various popular sports such as football, softball and netball will benefit from grants, while gymnastics in Kuilsrivier, dragon boats in
Zeekoevlei and jukskei in Khayelitsha will also receive financial assistance form the City.

Altogether 21 sporting boards, 9 associations and 3 strategic partners are supported. The last category aims to promote Cape Town as "hosting City" for top sporting events.

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