MAM DES BEUKES
In addition to her work in the community, Mam Des is a busy and proud wife, mother and grandmother. She and her husband of 40 years moved their young family to Bertrams from Eldorado Park in 1994 because they were concerned about the rise of gangsterism in Eldos. However over the years similar problems appeared in Bertrams. Mam Des was distressed to see young people led astray due to easy availability of drugs and alcohol. She joined in efforts to provide more positive options for local youngsters, making house-to-house visits, asking parents if they would allow their children to participate in after-school programmes at the community centre. In late 2017 this initiative affiliated to Boys and Girls Clubs of South Africa, where Mam Des is now a member of staff. There are over 300 children participating in the various programmes offered at the club.
Because they are so deeply involved in community matters through the Bertrams Residents’ Movement, Mam Des and other concerned residents were quick to realise that because many people had lost employment through the lockdown, they were unable to provide food for their families. Even before the Makers Valley food initiative started, Mam Des initiated food relief efforts, providing meals from Fuller Park in Bertrams. This team also organised for the caregiver from the local clinic to provide pamphlets and education on personal protection against C-19 infection.
When she was invited to join the emerging food security programme in Makers Valley, Mam Des did not hesitate. While Boys and Girls Club has been closed in accordance with lockdown regulations, Mam Des and other members of the Bertrams community have worked with the food security team, serving soup and hot meals almost daily from the community centre yard. They also provide the residents of the nearby old age home with hot meals as often as possible.
Mam Des and her team have embraced partnership with the broader Makers Valley initiatives. Everyone in the community knows that Mam Des is always willing to ‘go the extra mile’, including personally delivering food to those who are elderly or ill. In turn, Mam Des emphasises that she is very grateful to the food team and to Makers Valley Partnership for the contributions made to the community.
