Six inner city churches joined hands to form an ecumenical trust for social development in the inner city. Initially named Pretoria Ecumenical Welfare Services (PEWS) Charitable Trust, this name was soon changed to the Pretoria Community Ministries Charitable Trust. The operations were always known as Pretoria Community Ministries (PCM).
The Potter’s House was created as the first non-racial shelter for women in crisis in the metropolitan area.
We take over the management of Litakoemi, a residential facility with 31 rooms and communal amenities. This becomes the pilot project and learning environment for what would eventually become our own social housing company.
We had our first attempt at a street festival and called it the Feast of the Clowns. The first attempt was such that we waited from 1995 until 2000 to have the next Feast and since it has become an annual and growing event, now running for a whole week.
The need for specialized contextual training in urban ministry was identified and the Institute for Urban Ministry (IUM) was created to address this gap. In partnership with UNISA and later also the University of Pretoria and other institutions, IUM developed a range of formal and informal training and education opportunities for urban ministry and theology.
The Street Ministry was launched to be more intentional and structured in our response to adult homelessness in the inner city. We created a Street Centre to provide specific basic services and linkages between homeless individuals and opportunities to be re-integrated into the community. In 2005 the name of the Street Ministry changed to Akanani.
We took over the management of Hofmeyr House, a property of the YMCA, and worked closely with the tenants to stabilize the rental income, pay off the municipal and other debt, and create a healthy living environment once again.
The Christian Lawyers Association opened its weekly Legal Advice Clinic at the PCM offices.
We started the Christmas in the Park celebrations in order to create a space for the homeless, the lonely and those who do not have family and friends in the city.
Seeing housing decay in the city centre, PCM created Yeast City Housing, the first social housing company in Tshwane, to offer affordable and decent accommodation with a focus on community building in the inner city.
The church building in the Salvokop neighbourhood was bought to be converted into a multi-purpose community centre, which is now known as the Inkululeko Community Centre.
To be able to respond to the reality of increased child prostitution, PCM opened Lerato House for teenage girls in 1998.