Victor Mecoamere

Victor Mecoamere

Provincial eliminations of the 18th yearly Old Mutual, SABC and Sowetan Community Builder of the Year Awards are due to end on a high note this month.

Supported in a big way by the nine provincial social services departments, the last heat is taking place in the first week of Women's Month - on August 7 - on account that the majority of nominees are always women.

Honouring community development champions who continue, against all imaginable odds, to work selflessly, tirelessly, passionately in education, health, social welfare, sports and recreation, crime prevention, job creation, environmental awareness, youth development, agriculture and food security.

These awards also:

l Encourage a spirit of volunteerism and nation building by recognising those who work towards the upliftment of communities;

l Acknowledge community workers who freely give of their time and effort to uplift their communities and set an example for others;

l Encourage other community members to uplift themselves in the same manner as these role models.

It is three years now that the awards have assumed an exciting celebrity-streaked format. Twelve finalists out of a total 36 provincial winners - one person each in the youth, adult, senior and group categories - are due to be tagged with four category celebrity champions who will visit the projects, record the work being done at the projects and inform the nation on SABC2 and through Sowetan.

Over the past two years, the celebrities have included Patrick Shai, Dingaan Mokebe and Mapaseka Mokoele.