Nkosinathi Project for the Homeless
 | Nkosinathi means ‘God is with us’ in isiZulu; which is also the literal meaning of the term 'Emmanuel'. |
The project is run by a group of volunteers whose efforts are coordinated by a paid coordinator. Thanks to a partnership with the Grey Street Mosque and SANZAF, we have Christian and Muslim volunteers working side by side to help the homeless.
The Nkosinathi Project provides:
- Food
- We offer breakfast and a cooked lunch four days a week, serving over 4,000 meals a month (250–350 meals each day). Although some of the food is purchased, Nkosinathi makes use of food donations and special agreements with local traders as well as donations of cash from the Cathedral parish, volunteers and well-wishers.
- Showers and clothes
- We provide showers and clean second-hand clothes to help homeless people improve their sense of self-respect and personal dignity.
- Referrals and advice
- We refer clients to our Clinic for health problems as well as to the other outreach projects for the specific help in which each specialises. Year 4 Social Work students (as part UNISA’s Bright Site initiative) help out in the project to interview clients one-to-one and to assist in identifying their needs.
- Advocacy
- We speak out on behalf of the homeless community and also help them to advocate for their own rights. For example, we provide an office at the DHC for a committee of homeless representatives; we organise forums for homeless people and the police to come together and listen to each other; we sponsored a theatre programme to help tell the true story of drugs on the streets. We are currently playing a leading role in the City-sponsored research project on homelessness with the Human Sciences Research Council. We also partner with Safer Cities (eThekwini Municipality), Urban Futures Centre (DUT) and Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry to try and identify creative and effective ways to help the homeless.
We are always open to new volunteers who want to come once or more regularly, on their own or in small groups (from a family, from schools or offices, from parishes and other religious groups). Volunteering is for any amount of time that you can offer, between 8.30am and 1.30pm, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, with safe parking available.
For more information on Nkosinathi, or if you wish to volunteer or donate food, contact the Co-ordinator, Sr Cathy:
cathy@denishurleycentre.org or 031 301 2240