Manenberg buzzed with excitement on Wednesday as hundreds of hungry children lined up for the launch of the first feeding scheme run by members of the LGBTIQ community.
The initiative, led by Youth 4 Change director Leslie van Rooyen, also raises awareness around sexuality and gender.
As the lockdown commenced, Leslie and his team put their heads together to help feed vulnerable residents, but decided to take their drive a step further.
“As the LGBTIQ community, we have been marginalised and traumatised by the gangsters who violate and discriminate against us every day,” says Leslie.
“So we started this initiative and through all our sponsors, we managed to run five LGBTIQ feeding schemes and serve 2500 people daily.”
LOVE TO CARE: Youth 4 Change Director Leslie van Rooyen. Video: Monique Duval
Children gathered at the Kei Street feeding scheme and cheered Leslie and his team on as they prepared lekker chicken curry and rice.
The excited children did a countdown for a ribbon cutting ceremony, which was attended by Ward Councillor Bonita Jacobs.
Every day the team of 20 people gather at the different kitchens and prepare warm meals to feed the community at lunch time.
They also hand out food parcels to the elderly.
Leslie says while they are often discriminated against by the elderly, they have seen a change in perceptions as the feeding schemes give them an opportunity to engage and educate mense.
“Even straight people have come out to volunteer at the feeding schemes,” he says.
SMAAK A DITE: Laaities line up in Kei Street
“This house in Kei Street has always been a safe place for LGBTIQ people and whenever gay people have been stoned or thrown out of their homes by their families after coming out, they come here.
“Through the years we have had more than 2000 people come through our doors from Manenberg, Bonteheuwel, Hanover Park and Mitchells Plain.
“Through the soup kitchens, we educate people about sexuality and gender identity.
“We even come across the kerk tannies who say it’s against God and so on but we let them pray for us and then we go back and help them with a food parcel.
SMAAK A DITE: Laaities line up in Kei Street
So even [with] the people that are judgerag, we show love.”
If you would like to assist the project in any way, please contact Van Rooyen on 065 883 5091
.