A platform to assist LGBTQIA+ teenagers and parents in Masiphumelele is desperately needed as kids are often sent to initiation schools to be circumcised or are kicked out of their homes, says community worker Nancy Mutshesi.
“I realised there was no one to help the LGBTQIA+ community. So I thought what was needed was a platform where people, parents and kids could go for assistance.
“They need more love from their families, and if we mentor the kids and the parents, then they can handle the situation differently.”
As a parent, Mutshesi says she knew early on that her son was different.
“I have a son who is non-binary, and when he was younger, he never played with boys and just stayed indoors.
“When he told me he was non-binary, I already knew but did not know what it was. Parents see it, but then they try to cover it up.
“Most parents send their kids to the mountain to be circumcised and expect them to change. Others take their kids to a church for a pastor to pray because their kids have demons.”
Mutshesi said she hopes the centre can bring positive change.
“If parents can be taught they will perhaps have knowledge of what to expect.
“Parents make the rules in the home and the child has to obey. What happens to that child if they are kicked out of the home? We need to teach parents to help their kids to help themselves.”
An extra room that has been added to the Masiphumelele Youth Centre has been earmarked to be used as a safe space to facilitate programmes and workshops for the LGBTQIA+ community.
“We have already built a structure at the youth centre, so all we need now is paint and tiles so we can open it up to the community.
“We need to bring people together because there are still so many misconceptions. Currently, it is a disaster and we need to have workshops, and I am asking parents who have children who are gay or lesbian to come forward to discuss.”
The workshops and programmes will take place at the youth centre.
“During covid, the centre was used as a feeding club and with the assistance of the Care Company. We were able to add containers and build another room using the shell of a garage.
“I am hoping anyone who is artistic could perhaps come and help it look good with some rainbow colours. We also need tiles and paint to complete.”
Jonathan Mills, the founder of the Care Company that sponsored the extension of the youth centre, says there have been a number of upgrades to the facility that once was unkempt.
“I met Nancy years ago during lockdown through community work and feeding schemes in Masiphumelele and Ocean View, and she has an amazing heart for the community.
“We first got involved in the youth centre during lockdown because the senior club we sponsor through the Care Company had nowhere to go because the hall was used for covid vaccines.
“The youth centre was there, but not used because schools were closed.”
At the time they discovered the facility was not well run.
“We received permission to use the centre and found it was not well looked after, and so I started working with a few people from the youth centre and community members to try and rehabilitate the centre.
“That was when Nancy became involved and since then we have sponsored upgrades to the facility.
“We also took an old shell of a garage and did some construction work.”
Mills added the Care Company supported whatever programmes the community was interested in facilitating at the centre.
“It (the centre) is for the community and what the community wants and chooses to do.
“We back those community workers and programmes they decide to do and this was entirely Nancy’s initiative.”
