27 May 2008

THE eThekwini Municipality recently signed a memorandum of understanding between and an Italian NGO to improve the lot of impoverished communities and assist the youth in the Durban area.

The agreement between eThekwini and the Italian-Southern Africa Development organization (ISADO) is aimed at assisting communities particularly those from rural areas with social welfare and development issues as well as the youth through cultural exchanges and sport.

At a signing ceremony attended by eThekwini Mayor Obed Mlaba and Italian Consul Ugo Ciarlatani, it was agreed that ISADO would play an important role in educating people about applying for their Identity documents and facilitate exchange programmes between South African and Italian students.

ISADO Chairperson Kevin Duke said the aim was not to take-over the functions of the Home Affairs Department but rather to educate people about the steps to be followed when applying for identity documents.

"Far too many people do not even know what documents to take along with when making such an application and as a result you find that people are unable to access government grants."

Duke said the Inanda, Ntuzuma, KwaMashu areas would be targeted as pilot projects in this instance.

"Depending on the success of our first phase of educating people we might consider even providing transport and a small fee of subsidizing very poor people to be able to take pictures for their ID's," said Duke.

In applauding the initiative Mayor Mlaba said non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations were still as relevant today as they were many years ago.

"I remember that pre-1994 there were a lot of NGO's but because of the expectations which were created when the new dispensation came into being, these simply ceased to be."

Mlaba said the initiative by ISADO would also go a long way towards ensuring that the youth would be better educated about the different cultures and sport.

It is expected that four yet to be named South African schools will be twinned with Italian schools in future.

Source: Durban.gov.za