Recognition for unsung heroes of Eastern Cape

AMONG ordinary citizens, unsung heroes can sometimes by found.

Last night, three of the Eastern Cape's most innovative heroes were recognised for the difference they have made in their rural communities.

From starting up computer centres and forming umbrella organisations to helping younger ones grow and taking care of the poor and the elderly, Bongi Ndakasi, Bonga Gwengula and Lunga Mazwana received special awards from the founder of Port Elizabeth's Ikhala Trust last night for going the extra mile.

Ndakasi, from Tsolo, 42km northwest of Mthatha, set up the village's first computer centre where accredited training is offered to provide the youth with skills to help them find jobs outside the village.

Having just returned from a high-profile leadership summit where she met US President Barack Obama, Ndakasi, 25, said her hometown was where her heart was.

"I was one of the lucky ones to have received a bursary to study computer science and literacy," Ndakasi said.

"My first thoughts were to educate myself and seek greener pastures, but having done so, I realised there was a need back home. Besides, it was my late mom's wish that I come back and plough into our village."

For her, having started the Kwenzekile Community Development Centre means giving other young people a chance in life.

"The people living in my village are all poor and cannot afford education unless it's free," she said.

"I left my job in Johannesburg to come back and not only skill them in computers but to also assist matriculants to get better grades in mathematics and science."

Dutywa's own education activist, Gwengula, 23, founded the Imbasa Community Development Centre, taking care of the youth and the elderly in his community.

After completing his pharmacy degree, he committed himself to ploughing back into his home town.

"There are many of us from the rural parts of the province who make a success of our lives. I spoke to other graduates and asked what their secret was.

"Most of them said it was their resilience," Gwengula said.

"That's when I decided to start something that would add to youngsters' resilience, by getting my friends to mentor them, mould them, inspire them and assist with their schoolwork."

Gwengula and his team also make sure the older people in the community stay healthy.

"We pick up their medicine and arrange transport for them when it's time to see their doctors," he said.

For Mazwana, 40, his heroic acts are to assist other non-profit organisations to find their feet.

"We connect them with the right people who can especially assist them financially.

"Anyone who's involved in projects that help alleviate hunger and starvation, from farming to growing vegetable gardens, is my forte," he said.

Ikhala founder Bernie Dolley said the function was to remind the unsung heroes their efforts were recognised.

"There is nothing as refreshing as someone who cares," she said. - Alvené du Plessis