VUT Alumni Relations Partners With Tigers Motorcycle Club. On September 28, 2024, the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) Alumni Relations department joined forces with the Tigers Motorcycle Club for an ambitious charity event aimed at bolstering community engagement and sustainability.
This partnership marked a continuation of their commitment to social responsibility, pivoting from their previous efforts which involved providing essential supplies to children’s homes to a more sustainable project that promises long-term benefits for the community.
Fostering Sustainability at Kitso IDC
This year’s initiative centered around the development of a sustainable garden project at the Kitso Information Development Centre (Kitso IDC) located in Sharpeville. The choice of location was significant, with Kitso IDC housed in the historically important Old Police Station—a site that echoes the memories of the poignant events of March 21, 1960.
This center has become a cornerstone for the community by offering crucial services such as internet access, government program coordination, and skills training aimed at fostering entrepreneurship among the youth and unemployed adults.
The Charity Ride and Garden Revival
The focus on a garden project stemmed from a specific request by Kitso IDC to create a sustainable source of food for the community. This would not only support the center’s daily feeding program, which caters to over 200 people, but also provide job training and employment opportunities.
The project was meticulously planned and executed with contributions from various departments within VUT, including Alumni Relations, the HIV Unit, Protection Services, and external partners like the Red Cross in Vereeniging.
The event commenced at the Caravan Park, drawing bikers from across the provinces who gathered to support this cause. The journey led them to Kitso IDC, where the team embarked on revitalizing the center’s existing garden. This effort was supported by a generous donation back in 2021 from the Department of Agriculture, which had provided agricultural tunnels that facilitated the training of youth in sustainable agricultural practices.
Long-Term Impact and Community Empowerment
During the charity event, the participants donated essential gardening supplies, including 100 units of seedlings, compost, and fruit trees. Due to space constraints, immediate planting included 50 seedlings and four fruit trees, with plans to utilize the remainder for future expansion of the garden project.
This strategic addition to the center’s resources is poised to reinforce its role in the community by enhancing its self-sufficiency and extending its educational programs.
Moreover, Kitso IDC remains a pivotal institution in Sharpeville, offering free certified training programs in areas such as computer literacy, facilitated by VUT, and life skills development to equip the community’s youth for future challenges. The center also houses an Advisory and Referrals office, providing guidance and support for various local concerns, and it continues its tradition of donating essential items like clothing and food to those in need.
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Conclusion
The collaboration between VUT Alumni Relations, Tigers Motorcycle Club, and Kitso IDC exemplifies a model of community engagement that leverages collective efforts for sustainable development. This event did more than just provide immediate relief; it laid the groundwork for ongoing support and community empowerment, ensuring that the ties forged through this initiative would continue to strengthen and bring about positive change in Sharpeville.
