The Inspiring Journey of Camelita Reizenburg and the Development Centre for Community Upliftment

After celebrating women as a country in the month of August, it's time to honour Camelita Reizenburg, also known as “Cammy”. She was born and raised in the Cape Flats and her parents taught her the importance of perseverance and hard work. Her family's strong religious background and emphasis on education encouraged her to pursue brilliance despite their limited finances. 

She started her community service career via sports at the tender age of 14 while she was in grade 8, working with schools in the area. "This experience sparked my passion for giving back, and I quickly started projects to distribute bread," Cammy stated.  

“As I continued to serve, I recognized the need for professional development to impact my community effectively. I pursued studies in community development, equipping myself to address the unique challenges faced by the Cape Flats residents,” she added. 

In order to address the lack of accessible counseling facilities in her community, Cammy is currently working towards a counselling qualification. "I trust God's provision to finish my studies, with 8 modules left," she said. 

Following twenty years of committed community service, Cammy reflects on the journey that led her to her current position. When she got back to Cape Town from Johannesburg, she prayed to God for wisdom on how she might help her community. She stated, "His response was quite clear: "My people perish for lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6).  

Camelita through her work, she aims to:

• Invest in youth development

• Preserve elderly wisdom and cultural heritage

• Bring positive change to the Cape Flats community

With these goals in mind, Cammy founded the organisation to help with the social and academic issues that their children are facing. Her research turned up startling statistics on gangsterism, violence, and scholastic difficulties in the community. 

Cammy was looking for a name that embodied the organization's basic principles, which centre on uplifting and strengthening underprivileged people. The term "development" in the name Development Centre for Community Upliftment (DCCU) denotes progress, while "upliftment" denotes the enhancement and empowerment of the community people they assist. 

DCCU is a registered Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) and Public Benefit Organisation (PBO), which allows companies that support them to benefit from tax rebates on their contributions. This incentivizes corporate partners to invest in their mission while also receiving financial advantages. 

Other methods they use to secure financial support are through fundraising local business donations, and strong community backing. They also collaborate with community stakeholders and businesses that share their vision of creating a brighter future for underprivileged communities. As a registered PBO, they are eligible to receive financial contributions from donors and institutions that value the associated tax benefits. 

They also raise money through fundraisers, donations from local businesses, and strong community support. Additionally, they work along with companies and community stakeholders that share their goal of giving disadvantaged communities a better future. Being a recognised PBO, they can accept monetary donations from contributors and organisations who appreciate the accompanying tax advantages. 

"We have not yet secured grants or funding from corporate businesses to sustain our organization's operations and programs," claims Cammy, "despite our eligibility." Finding money and grants to support our initiatives is one of our toughest problems. We now need money to buy Wacom tablets for our art students as they are necessary equipment for them to advance their knowledge in digital art and animation, she continued. 

Youth, women, the elderly, and children in disadvantaged communities require particular attention and assistance, for instance, Luvo’s grandma was trending a few months back for being battered by Luvo. DCCU was founded to answer their immediate needs, especially in places like Belhar, Delft, and nearby areas. 

They formally formed their organization after witnessing first-hand the absence of support structures in place to aid these vulnerable communities. “We aim to provide skills training, social development, and a platform for youth, women, elderly, and children to thrive”, stated Cammy. 

DCCU principally focuses on empowering and elevating adolescents, women, and children via educational initiatives, skills development programs, social outreach, and community assistance. In order to provide a comprehensive approach to development, they also help families in need, aid during crises like floods, and arrange collaborations with educational institutions.  

They launched programs focused on:

1. Life skill intervention in schools, tackling social challenges like bullying and self-esteem issues.

2. Mentorship programs, empowering youth to make positive choices.

3. Counselling services, including:

1. Therapeutic Art for youth.

2. Emotional well-being and trauma workshops for the elderly, addressing grief and neglect.

4. Feeding program, delivering food to bedridden elderly and scholars who often go hungry.

5. Employment readiness program for unemployed youth, partnering with institutions for further studies or internships.

6. Mentorship for students from the University of the Western Cape (UWC), the University of South Africa (UNISA), and Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT).

7. We assist the matriculates who take a gap year they volunteer at the organisation and find themselves 

As DCCU's founder and leader, Cammy is responsible for managing relationships, monitoring daily operations, interacting with the community, organising outreach activities, and making sure our programs are implemented smoothly.  

Everyone faces challenges from time to time, and Cammy has discovered that perseverance and teamwork are essential. "We rely on community input, partnerships with other departments and organisations within the Western Cape Government and the City of Cape Town, and problem-solving strategies when challenges arise." 

Additionally, they are flexible in changing their strategies, particularly in response to unanticipated events or financial difficulties that impact our communities. DCCU markets its organisation using a variety of tactics, including social media, community events, word-of-mouth, and partnerships with nearby businesses and educational institutions. 

Along with actively seeking media attention to showcase their efforts and accomplishments, they also participate in open forums and workshops to network and promote their work. It is with pride that Cammy and her colleagues have established fruitful collaborations with educational institutions, as well as the school intervention and life skills program. 

A program called "Our Art Animation" is intended to assist young people who have left school, highlighting the development of their social skills and conduct. In addition to offering them a creative outlet, they hope to instill in them the vital life skills necessary for successful reintegration into society and the pursuit of bright futures free from criminal activity. 

Counselling programs are available to assist people, children, and senior citizens with their emotional health. "We offer a secure and caring environment where people can confront their emotional difficulties and strive towards recovery and self-improvement," she said. There will be disagreements in any workplace, and resolving them requires good communication. The group makes sure that there is free communication among its members and promotes opinion sharing. 

Organising harmony and concentration requires regular team meetings, dispute-resolution techniques, and the creation of a supportive atmosphere. The majority of their staff members is made up of recent matriculates taking a gap year to explore prospective career pathways and learn new skills, as well as volunteers from UWC and UNISA. 

Furthermore, UWC, UNISA, and UCT students finish their internships with them, getting useful experience in community development, networking, and resilience-building. Their practical experience gives them an understanding of the potential and obstacles in community upliftment activities.

To see more of their great work visit their website www.dccu.org.za and  if you want reach to send an email to info@dccu.org.za