Despite its reputation for crime and poverty, Johannesburg's Eldorado Park is home to inspiring individuals and grassroots initiatives making a difference. From feeding schemes to school safety programmes, these community efforts are striving to bring hope and positive change.

Listen to this article 8 min Listen to this article 8 min Eldorado Park, which residents say was once a close-knit, joyful community, has faced growing challenges in recent years, from unemployment and gangsterism, to drug-related violence.

While the Johannesburg area is often compared to the Cape Flats in Cape Town, owing to its crime levels, many residents believe there is still hope. Grassroots initiatives are bringing positive change, feeding the hungry, supporting young people and tackling community issues head-on. Eldorado Park's story is not only one of struggle, but also one of resilience and determination.

As one long-time resident reflected: "There was not always this much gangsterism or drug access. While things have drastically changed since 2015, there is still hope for a better future. We realise no one is coming to save us; we have to be the change we want to see."

Community transformation

Arthur Wilson, secretary of the Eldorado Park Extension 1 Project Steering Committee, speaks to the heart of this transformation. He said the committee was born out of the dire social issues plaguing the greater community.

"It became personal because we wake up every day to gun violence, drugs and unemployment. As young...