Together Action Group (TAG)

About Us

The Together Action Group (TAG) was started in 2001 by group of volunteers to serve youth of a multicultural community that suffers from severe economic stress, and crime. The chief focus is to encourage a pro-active approach to alleviating crime, gangs, HIV/ Aids, and drug related problems in school. The participants are from K-12 grades and many come from single-parent homes with highly disfunctional situations.

The need is for funds to keep the lease on the center. The location is nearest to the community it serves and the children have easy access to it as a safe haven. The center also focuses on academic and personal success by providing volunteer help for tutoring and training for personal success (conflict resolution, HIV/ Aids, academic discipline)

There are many needs, but the majority is to provide school supplies, food for the pantry to feed the children after school (many have no food at home), clothing (shoes, undergarments, socks). A vehicle to transport children and to pick up donated supplies.

Achievements

• The programme currently has 140 active participants. Many who have been participating in the programme for 5+ years. This restorative justice programme is very successful in keeping youth that have been sent to the courts with discipline problems in school from becoming gang members and return to the school with support and better skills to be successful.
• The soup kitchen is a great service to the community. It creates support from this population because those in need learn about how the center is helping their community. Success is also demonstrated in that all participants take an active role in keeping "their center" by cleaning up, serving, taking leadership with the younger participants. Social skills and peer support to name a few.

Programmes

After School Programmes

To enhance education and social skills for children from disadvantaged communities. Currently have 140 participants. Activities (Homework supervision/tutoring, life skills, reading, sports and recreation, daily feeding. Would like to provide monthly excursions.

Restorative Justice

A mediation program to resolving conflict matters without litigation.reconciliation between victim and offender.

Sports

To ensure that every child become actively involved in some form of sport. This is a positive focus activity to assist with the ongoing battle of drug and alcohol abuse, gangs, and boredom.

Soup Kitchen

Twice a week soup and bread are provided to the destitute, poverty stricken, senior families in the community.

Bakery Project

A bakery project to provide fresh bread to the community. This teaches skills to attaining goals, working together and providing a service to the community.

Formal Affiliations

• SAPS Sophiatown
• SANCA
• In-Touch
• Region B
• LoveLife
• Angels Counseling Service
• Community Schools

Goals and Objectives

• The goal is to receive a grant that will help the center purchase the property it is now leasing. This will prevent it being turned over to drug dealers and proprieter that will sell alcohol and other adult services. Since the center is being serviced by committed volunteers.
• We want to increase the volunteer base to include services for more tutoring and life skills training.
• The programme really needs an automobile for transporting goods to the center.