Cape Town - A Mitchells Plain couple are going above and beyond their call of duty to help the needy.
Gerome and Charlene Hendriks, who run a NPO called Kingdom Foundation Investors, are passionate about helping the community and putting smiles on their faces.
And if they are not cooking and serving food to communities, then Gerome is offering free transportation for the elderly to and from hospital.
The pair, who have three daughters, are now helping parents with school admissions and matriculants with their smart ID online applications.
The idea came about after they witnessed how many children were not registered for school.
Gerome says they don’t want children to miss out on school.
“We started running around to get children into school but sadly we only managed to get a few in. We are now trying to avoid this from happening again by encouraging parents to register their kids.
“(Regarding the smart ID applications), my wife and I were at Home Affairs with our daughter one morning but were not attended to, due to the backlog of the previous day. However, we found out about some banks offering this service. We made an appointment for our daughter and started to assist others.”
Gerome says it is important to help those who don’t have access to a computer or internet because people are living in tough times.
“Many parents are only managing to keep their heads above water. They can only afford to buy WhatsApp bundles to stay in contact with their kids, and a loaf of bread will always be a priority before thinking about buying data.
“Parents try buying data from their phones - which is not always easy -and while they are trying to figure out what to do, they sadly run out of data. If we can help parents, it's not just about saving data but also a way for them to save some money for food.
“With all the negativity going on in the world today, there’s no better feeling than helping uplift others and restoring hope in their hearts. These days everyone can do with a bit of help just to give them that kickstart in life,” he says.
Meshay Williams, who received help with her smart ID online application, says, “A huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders (as I don’t have to stand in a long line at Home Affairs). They (Gerome and Charlene) are doing an excellent job by helping pupils and parents.”
Western Cape Education Department spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said: “The WCED appreciates that there are people assisting parents that do not have the resources to apply online. The couple evidently understand the importance of the enrolment and why it is important to apply on time. We thank them for their assistance and for doing a helpful service for others.”
If you need help with school admissions or smart ID online applications, call: 079 988 9296 or 082 778 0106.
Weekend Argus