Ocean View residents have held a second outdoor movie night for the community’s children in an effort to reclaim the streets from crime.
The first movie night happened spontaneously in Centaur Close in Ocean View on Saturday May 4 when Vasco Vigis tested a projector outside and children gathered to watch.
This inspired residents from Centaur Close and Columbia Road to make it a regular occurrence.
With support from Vigis Home of Hope (VHOH), a non-profit organisation helping children, the residents held the latest movie night on Saturday June 1.
“Even though it rained, we moved the event to my front yard. The kids watched the movie under a roof, cuddled in blankets with hot chocolate and hot dogs donated by community members,” said VHOH founder Dimitre Vigis.
“The local support has been overwhelming, with neighbours not only donating snacks but also helping with set-up, clean-up and meal preparation. It’s heart-warming to see everyone come together to make this happen.”
Neighbour Whaseem Williams said: “The shooting in Ocean View has stopped, and it gives us hope to do stuff like this for the children. At least we’re keeping them busy.”
Mr Vigis agreed, saying, “This is a chance for us to take back control of our streets. Through these open-air cinema nights, Ocean View residents are not just entertaining their children but are also creating a stronger, safer, and more united community.”
Ocean View police chief Lieutenant Colonel Rewayne Muller said: “We’ve seen a decrease in contact crimes over the recent months, and we owe this partly to the partnerships we’ve built with our community organisations. We also commend the diligent efforts of the Ocean View Community Police Forum in safeguarding our community.”
Twenty-seven children attended the first movie night and 51 were at the second. Mr Vigis anticipates seeing about 70 children at the next one.
His niece, Alex Vigis, 10, who has attended both movie nights, said they gave her a chance to spend time with her friends.
“I feel safe being out at night because there are many adults and children I trust. Watching the movie and having snacks is my favourite part.”
