Aletia Grundling has an unusual method to combat gangsterism. “By joining gangs, I plan to stop criminal activities,” she says. Based in Lantana, a small neighbourhood in Paarl in the Western Cape, Grundling runs Monte Christo Miqlat (MCM). Through the NGO, she began implementing a range of initiatives to uplift the community, from nutrition programmes to family care. But Grundling felt that none of these played to the individual needs of people falling to gangsterism and drug abuse. So she changed her tactics. “We reached out to the youth at risk,” she says. “We invited gangsters into the centre.”
Grundling started by welcoming youth into the MCM facility to make use of the community gym, as well as to enjoy a free meal. “The first time it was really, very, very scary,” she admits. But the community learnt to respect Grundling and her commitment to their growth. To increase their involvement at the centre and spark their interests, she planned a trip to a theatre where many of them experienced a production for the first time. This inspired one individual to better their life as opposed to joining a gang. Ever since, over 10 young people have followed suit, deciding to instead pursue jobs, look after their families, or work on their passions. “We only showed them love,” Grundling says. “They are part of the community.”
Today, the MCM centre also hosts education and employment programmes aimed at providing youth with competitive skills for the job market. “One of the biggest challenges in this area is unemployment and poverty,” Grundling says. But she has given people the space and opportunity to realise that they have the agency to choose a new direction for themselves. “We’ve seen significant changes and that the youth are now making something of their lives,” Grundling says. “I hope that they’ll be inspired to believe in themselves as much as I believe in them.”
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