Organisation Background

Senzokuhle was established on the 12th September 2009 to provide home based care to meet the basic needs of the sick and the elderly living in Kenneth Gardens. Senzokuhle was officially registered as an NPO in April 2010 (NPO No: 078- 584). Senzokuhle is run by volunteer community members living in Kenneth Gardens, which is Durban's largest sub-economic minicipal housing estate. The organization services Kenneth Gardens residents, an estimated 1500- 1800 people, and the wider Umbilo community more broadly. Access to the subsidized housing on the estate is normally through a referral system, where a public social welfare worker or a public hospital official refers an individual or family to the eThekwini Housing Department. Referrals are usually based on the fact that someone in a designated family suffers from a mental or physical disability, or even chronic illness. Such disability or illness must be shown to diminish the earning capacity in the family.

Kenneth Gardens has a high concentration of people living with disabilities or chronic illness, as well as a number of elderly residents with specific health needs. Unfortunately there is little municipal health support or intervention on the estate, nor is there a public clinic in the ward. The nearest public hospital designated for Kenneth Gardens' residents is over 20 kms away.

In response to this situation a small group of women in the community, headed by Khanyi Sibiya, with basic training in various health fields together with the PR Councilor of the Ward 33 initiated a door to door campaign to find out the needs of community members. Following meetings with various governmental and non-governmental stakeholders. More recently Senzokuhle had partnered with the Community Development department of University of KwaZulu-Natal and Durban University of Technology to run a public health clinic in the estate, offering residents access to basic health care facilitates and personnel.

The Senzokuhle team is looking for funding and/or equipment for the clinic to assist in continuing this important service to the people of Kenneth Gardens and Umbilo.