For over a decade, Ralph Bouwers, 46, aka ‘ZsaZsa the drag queen, called the United Kingdom home.
But three months ago, Ralph moved back to Lavender Hill where he grew up to plough back into his community.
With his organisation, “The Guardians of National Treasure”, Ralph together with 15 volunteers began a soccer club, baking classes, a door-to-door feeding scheme and extramural activities like board games for the kids.
The organisation is funded by Ralph and he hopes extra hands will come on board soon.
In January, Ralph paid for barbers to cut the hair of over 50 boys for the new school year.
He joined with police and the Department of Community Safety this year as his project grew.
Ralph, who is one of eight children, says he knows poverty and swaarkry.
ALL ACTION: Soccer club is among the new activities launched
It’s not strange to see girls in his kitchen, baking koekies, but it’s about more than that, he says.
“We also do this to create an open channel for these girls who may feel vulnerable and have no one to reach out to. While we are baking, we have code words for example ‘cup of tea’, this is when the child needs to speak to someone alone,” he explains.
Pots of food are also distributed weekly, as well as fresh produce for people to make their own kos.
“Standing in a long queue has risk factors like safety and it takes away the person’s dignity,” says Ralph. “When a meal is cooked at a home, you get that warm smell of food and love, which a child needs.”