Park creates jobs and opportunities
SANDTON – The eager workers who helped paint the equipment at the new Shandon Way Park are talented and grateful for the opportunity.
Among the swings and slides of a brand-new park in Shandon Way in Sandton is a story of job creation for talented workers.
In the article, Slides and fun moved to Shandon Way, the efforts of the community to create a new park for the Sandton community was reported on.
At the forefront of these plans is Kate Wardle, the deputy chairperson of the Parkmore Community Association. After spending a day with the workers who helped make this park a reality, she said, “I had a great morning with the Jozi@work painting team [The workers who helped paint the play equipment in Shandon Way]. What a wonderful team of young people, they arrived at 8am and had a great attitude.
“I spoke at length to their supervisor, Mandy Pedro, who was on-site too. Then I chatted further to the guys in the team and realised that there is amazing talent in the team.”
Wardle added that one of the workers, 25-year-old Chellon Palmer received training from a Finnish organisation on how to be a radio DJ. “He has the technical skills to set up a whole studio. He also can train people in computers and is a facilitator.
“The funding for his youth centre, unfortunately, dried up.” It is for this reason that Palmer is grateful for the opportunity to earn an income through job opportunities such as the one presented to him at the park.
“Another worker, Malik Baatjies represented South Africa in acrobatics in the world champs for three years in a row, travelling to the United States and Poland. His gymnastics partner is now playing professional football in the United Kingdom for Bournemouth Football Club.”
Wardle said she felt both inspired and humbled that these highly talented young men were working so diligently for R120 a day. “And they are painting with passion because they are excited to help children play in a park,” added Wardle.
The team of men that Wardle spoke to have made the dreams of both parents and children come true by painting playing equipment at about 27 parks.
Wardle concluded by saying that she was incredibly inspired by this passionate group of talented workers who have found opportunities in the creation of a much-needed Sandton park.
A Hurlingham-based grandmother, Annie George, said, “What a relief that I can take the grandchildren to a Sandton park after school for fresh air. I used to take my children to George Lea Park, which is now out of use.”\
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