What have you done for your community lately? - Claremont/Lynfrae/Harfield/Kenilworth

The concept of "active citizenry" is not new, but is one which is increasingly coming to the fore in South Africa to meet rising challenges. On the one hand, these relate to the deteriorating political climate and basic services, and on the one hand to the rise of crime and community challenges such as homelessness.

Active citizenry means local communities take charge of their future and are the agents change in terms of what they want to happen in their communities. It means that local residents should "be the change they want to see in the world", a well-used quote attributed in part to Mahatma Gandhi.

There are essentially five pillars of activity citizenry and ways in which you can make a difference and be the change you want to see:

Contribute to local organisations - from local Civic Organisations to the Neighbourhood Watch and a host of other initiatives all aimed at providing support and a better life for locals, there are plenty to choose from. For more information on local initiatives, you can visit sites such as https://www.claremontwatch.org/ or https://www.harlynwatch.org.za/ or your local neighbourhood Facebook groups for more information.

Volunteering - there are often ways in which you can give back some of your time by volunteering assistance when needed. these could be assisting at charity organisations or with community events such as street or beach clean-ups. Again, local Facebook Groups are often a good source of information on this, or you can Google "volunteering in Cape Town" where you will find plenty of opportunities.

Support responsible giving - homelessness is a growing concern for the City of Cape Town (and South Africa as a whole). The city is actively investing in and supporting initiatives aimed at responsible solutions. Giving handouts is irresponsible and simply encourages people to remain on the streets. Rather support the City's and other initiatives which support homeless persons. Visit https://www.capetown.gov.za/ to find out more about the "Give Dignity" initiative.

Community charities - these play a vital role in assisting displaced and homeless persons as well as helping those in need, from youth to older persons. An important way in which you could have influence and "be the change" is to support local charities. Look at some of the above to see where you could make a difference whether in the form of financial or other donations or time and assistance.

Participate in petitions/forums related to responsible development - development is necessary to meet the needs of a growing City and country, but should be done responsibly. Being an active citizen entails being aware of what is happening in your country, City and neighbourhood. Keep up to date and contribute when needed in forums where matters are discussed and in petitions where locals look to either effect or affect change or proposals.

Seeff is proud to be part of the local communities that we serve. To this end, we were delighted to host a stand to collect dog food for a charity called "The Dogs of Scottsdene" at the GLCA Family Market in Lynfrae recently. This enabled the community to donate a tin or bag of food to enter the raffle or buy a ticket. The money collected was used to buy dog food as well.

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