CHAPTER 3 | the-mcc

The Recycling Initiative

In 1989, Sister Ethel started a recycling initiative for the Missionvale community. She explained that at this time, the area was immensely polluted with tins and glass, and that children often found themselves injured. They would get cut by the tins and their wounds became septic as they often did not have any shoes to wear.

Sister Ethel needed money to pay for the soup and bread that she handed out to the community on a daily basis. As a means of cleaning up the area, preventing children from getting hurt, and funding this initiative, the project began and still continues to this day.

People from Missionvale and other surrounding townships come to the Centre to receive half a loaf of bread and one cup of powdered soup every day. However, in order to receive the bread and soup, they are first required to bring some form of recyclable material.

In most cases, they bring old glass bottles and tin cans. Once they have thrown the tin can or glass bottle into the bin they then receive a blue chip. By showing that they have this blue chip they are then permitted to receive the bread and powdered soup.

Sister Ethel acknowledged that the process encouraged a greater sense of dignity amongst the people. The tin acts as a form of money through which community members in due course are able to pay for their own bread and soup.

Around 9am Community members stand in the queue waiting to throw away their recyclable material.	Nikiwe Gohla, a Missionvale resident, stands at the front of the queue.	This bucket contains the blue chips, which will be handed out to the community members.
Harry Theys, a Missionvale Care Centre staff member, hands out the blue chips.	All that is required is a single tin can.	Community members throw their tins into the big tip.
This ensures that there is a cleaner environment.	Nikiwe Gohla and her friends wait in another queue to collect their bread and powdered soup.	The bread is prepared to be handed out to the residents.
When they do have extra, Blue Ribbon also donates loaves of bread to the Centre.	Disabled community members are served first at 11am. They hand back their blue chips to Harry Theys.	Residents receive one cup of powdered soup, which will be mixed with water. Vegetables can also be added.
Rachel Jacobs, a Missionvale Care Centre staff member serves the bread and soup to the residents.	Community members without any disability are then able to join the queue.	Nikiwe Gohla receives her bread and soup.
Nikiwe Gohla leaves the centre, and will return the next day to receive her bread and soup once more.

CARE CENTRE

The Recycling Initiative

Around 9am Community members stand in the queue waiting to throw away their recyclable material.

Nikiwe Gohla, a Missionvale resident, stands at the front of the queue.

This bucket contains the blue chips, which will be handed out to the community members.

Harry Theys, a Missionvale Care Centre staff member, hands out the blue chips.

All that is required is a single tin can.

Community members throw their tins into the big tip.

This ensures that there is a cleaner environment.

Nikiwe Gohla and her friends wait in another queue to collect their bread and powdered soup.

The bread is prepared to be handed out to the residents.

When they do have extra, Blue Ribbon also donates loaves of bread to the Centre.

Disabled community members are served first at 11am. They hand back their blue chips to Harry Theys.

Residents receive one cup of powdered soup, which will be mixed with water. Vegetables can also be added.

Rachel Jacobs, a Missionvale Care Centre staff member serves the bread and soup to the residents.

Community members without any disability are then able to join the queue.

Nikiwe Gohla receives her bread and soup.

Nikiwe Gohla leaves the centre, and will return the next day to receive her bread and soup once more.