This past week members of Shincheonji Church gathered to lend a hand and give much-needed help in cleaning the premises of a school in Cosmo City, Johannesburg. The going ‘green and clean’ project, forms part of the church’s Shincheonji Cares initiative to assist local communities across Southern Africa.

Patrick Chikaonda, a spokesperson for Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Johannesburg, said that this initiative was born out of the desire to provide hope, love and care to communities in need of help. “Our objective is to do whatever we can to give back to the community. For example, this week, we decided to educate and help the learners at Cosmo City Secondary One to clean their environment. Our congregation members want to lend a hand practically, unite as one, and show that we care.”According to Chikaonda, the church identified Cosmo Secondary One where its members were able to physically help. Congregation members educated the learners about cleanliness and respect for the environment. Then, with the help of over 300 students and staff members, they put on their masks and gloves and, one by one, began the task of cleaning the school premises – classrooms and grounds. 

Snacks were also provided for the learners with the opportunity to win a food voucher for those who excelled in their task to fill their black bags with as much litter as possible. The learners welcomed that with much zeal and excitement.

A grade nine learner, Thembelihle Nyati, said, “I enjoyed cleaning up the school with my friends; the fun and the food too. I actually learned a lot and it motivates us to keep our school clean from now on since we do have dustbins in our classes. We will pick up papers that are littered and we will motivate more of our friends not to litter around the school.”

“Our kids really enjoyed themselves for the first time. I thought they were going to have a problem, but they actually showed interest and they worked very hard,” Ms Simphiwe Magagula, a Life Orientation teacher at the secondary school said. 

Ms. Magagula confirmed that this project is the start of creating a culture of people cleaning after themselves, and for them to think about giving back to their community in the future. 

The Shincheonji spokesperson ended off the day by sharing that the church will continue to give back to the community as they have done in the past. In May this year, more than 18,000 of its members across the world donated much-needed blood due to the shortage caused by the pandemic. Members of the church in Gauteng have also painted retirement homes and orphanages in the city of Johannesburg, with food parcels distributed to those in greatest need.

Chikaonda said, “Through the Shincheonji Cares initiative the church aims to give hope to those communities who have lost hope. We want communities to experience what can be done when we work together as one – great things can be achieved, and change will come.”