Good start to New Year for AHOS
2006-01-26
THE Athlone House of Strength (AHOS), a local NPO in the process of developing a One-Stop Victim Empowerment Centre for abused women, recently laid the corner-stone of their new Counselling Centre in Paarl.
The Vital Health Counselling Centre, sponsored by Vital Health Foods, is to be the entry point and provide an array of services as part of the holistic and comprehensive approach that AHOS has towards the care of abused women and their children.
John and Ginny Grieve of Vital Health, and their son George, came to lay the corner-stone of the Counselling Centre and see the progress of the construction to date.
With the help of the Athlone Institute Trust (AIT), the Allandale Correctional Services Restorative Justice Building team and a small dedicated team of builders led by John Martin and Victor Samaai of the AIT, great progress was made over the year.
The Shelter is now at roof height and should be completed by about April this year.
More assistance came in the form of a generous sponsorship from the British American Tobacco Company for the costs involved in running support and therapeutic crafting groups with abused and unemployed women.
This programme, involving 20 to 30 women per group, will be run over the year starting in February. Women completing this eight week programme can then choose to go on more intensive training programmes to enable them to further their careers, increase their income potential and improve job opportunities.
Partners in providing this service are the Department of Labour in Paarl, Boland College and the SA Wine Industries Trust.
AHOS is also in the process of developing a Sewing and Crafting Entrepreneurship Project for AHOS clients.
It seems 2006 is going to be the year that sees the creation of a dream started in 1999 and developed through the co-operation and dedication of members of five local churches.
“We however need the involvement and assistance of the public, businesses and community,” says Pat Martin, chairperson of AHOS.
The Shelter and Counselling Centre as well as the Child Care Centre, also to be built this year, will need to be furnished and equipped.
AHOS also invites organisations to refer women who will benefit from attending the Support Group and Training Programmes.
A specific group will be run for women from farms who would like training in Early Childhood Development with a view to developing crèche facilities for the pre-schoolers on their farms.
AHOS is also appealing to people wishing to volunteer their services or donate in cash or kind.
Should you wish to be of assistance to the AHOS cause, contact the Centre Manager, Fiona Brophy, at 872-7518.
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