Why We Do What We Do

Watch The Video Below To Learn More About Neighbours Work... and How You Can Help.

Neighbours NPO, rooted in the heart of Johannesburg, has been a beacon of hope and change. Our mission is to address and impact a broad spectrum of social issues, from supporting the victims of the 80 Albert Street fire to challenging xenophobic narratives. We are committed to fostering a society where justice, love, and equality are not just ideals, but realities. By empowering communities, supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, and enabling activists, we strive to create lasting change. ​
Goals for the Year:

1. Enhanced Community Support: Strengthen our assistance programs for victims of the 80 Albert Street fire and similar crises, ensuring immediate relief and long-term rehabilitation.
2. Challenging Xenophobia: Intensify our efforts in anti-xenophobia initiatives through community workshops, awareness campaigns, and collaboration with local authorities to foster a culture of acceptance and respect.
3. LGBTQIA+ Empowerment: Launch targeted programs to support the LGBTQIA+ community, focusing on advocacy, safety, and social inclusion.
4. Activist Empowerment: Create platforms and resources to empower local activists, enabling them to effect change in their respective areas of focus.
5. Organisational Growth: Hire a part-time administrator to streamline our operations, enhance our outreach capabilities, and ensure efficient utilisation of resources.

The Branken family started Neighbours by saying, “We are a rather ordinary family doing some extraordinary things.” However, we believe as Christians that God is highly concerned with the brokenness in our city and nation and that He has called each of us to make a difference. To bring change, we need to see the future, prepare for the future and then become the future… in the words of Gandhi, “We must become the change we want to see in the world”.

     As an organisation, we want to see a world where the rich do not tolerate extreme poverty and inequality. We want to see many people laying down their lives of comfort and convenience to better the lives of others. Seeing people freed from poverty, inequality, racism, and exploitation is more important than fulfilling our lust for more things! We want to be part of a society in which people are valued more than things. We want to see the god of consumerism in South Africa bowing its knee to a love-motivated revolution which results in freedom from oppression and exploitation. We want to see this for everyone regardless of class, citizenship, race or religion. We dream of equality in every sector of society. If the education system is not OK for a rich kid, it is not for a poor kid.

      The same goes for healthcare, housing, and security. The same goes for rural kids and inner-city kids, and black and white kids. We are not more valuable than the least valued in our society. But, we are doing our lives in a new way. We will live our dream and see this reality briefly described above happening around us. We hope others will join us, which will occur around them too. Who knows, very soon, the world can be a different place!

Support Neighbours Monthly

For us practically being a good neighbour can look very different each day.

• Some days we find ourselves helping a refugee friend gain access to the city’s health care facilities
• Other days can be spent sharing meals with homeless friends
• Sometime, and sadly way too often, we find ourselves consoling friends who have been hurt or abused or lost loved ones often as a result of uncaring and unjust systems.
• We also often get involved in advocacy standing with hurting and marginalised communities as they cry out for justice​

​As we strive to create a more inclusive and just society, your donation is more than just financial assistance; it’s a testament to your commitment to love and justice. Every contribution brings us closer to hiring a dedicated part-time administrator, enhancing our anti-xenophobia campaigns, and supporting vital community initiatives.

​You can also use the following bank account to make a direct donation to support Neighbours. Please use your email address as the reference so that we can properly allocate your donation and send you a receipt.
  Account name:            Neighbours NPO
  Bank:                            Mercantile Bank
  Account Number:       105 079 7388
  Branch Code:               450105
  Swift Code:                   LISAJJZA
  Branch Address:          142 West Street, Merchantile, Lisborn                                                   House, 4th floor, Sandton
Reference for donation: Your email address​

Donate

​Please consider committing to giving once off, monthly or both by following one of the links below ​