Background

Lungisani Indlela (LI) is a Christian based organization, registered in 2008 as a TRUST and Non Profit Organization and birthed out of Indlela (which was registered as an NPO in 2004). Lungisani Indlela was formed as a separate NPO to cater for the ever growing needs of the Amaoti Community Development Project.

Our offices are based at the Brookdale Secondary School in Phoenix, on the border of Amaoti. The board ensures that there is good governance, accountability by the leadership, transparent and responsible handling of funding, and maintaining a focus that is in line with the vision.

Boardmembers:
• Tich Smith (Chairman & visionary)
• Joan Smith (Visionary)
• Tracey-Leigh Wessels (Lawyer)
• Derrick Gumede (Pastor of Amaoti
   Community Church )
• Mickey Wilkins (Businessman &
  chairman of Indlela board)
• Blake Phillips (Businessman)
• Russel Curtis (Businessman)
• Bruce Winship (Businessman)
• Carol Bennet (Networking)
• Margaret A. Jeursen (Treasurer)

Amaoti is situated on the border of Phoenix in the north of Durban, South Africa. It is the largest informal settlement in KwaZulu-Natal with over 80,000 people living in this community.

Social problems, such as extreme poverty, abu e of women and children, unemployment, and the consequences of HIV/AIDS characterise the Amaoti community, creating a large number of orphans, neglected children, child-headed households and households where the children are looked after by the extended family or neighbours. Family breakdown, lack of proper housing, and HIV/AIDS has led to large numbers of vulnerable people in this community.

These problems, however, are only one side of the story. For the people of Amaoti this is where they feel at home and belong. When you ask them about their community they will tell you first and foremost about the care they have for each other. You will hear many stories of families sharing their food with neighbours, orphans and abused children taken in by neighbours and relatives and community members rallying together to build a better Amaoti for the future generation. It is with these people that Lungisani Indlela works, people who have already taken initiative to help children and families from this community.

Lungisani Indlela Trust functions in many ways as a bridge, bringing people and organisations from different cultures, countries and socio-economic backgrounds together to work towards a better Amaoti.