To change the destiny of a community
2006-12-14
IF you don’t have dreams or a vision, you can’t take up a challenge.
This challenge by Riekie van den Berg of SA Cares for Life, was taken up by Procare, a local group of social workers.
Marietjie Bezuidenhout of Procare described how they became involved in an exciting new community venture.
She stated: “We are going to change the destiny of a lot of children and families.”
The inauguration ceremony of the new company, NorSA, took place in Wellington recently.
There are four partners: Children of the World Norway, SA Care for Life, the ATKV and Pro-care.
Against the background of the huge dimensions of HIV/Aids, poverty and unemployment, SA Cares For Life, an Article 21 company in Gauteng, started with community projects with specific focus on families and children infected and affected with HIV/Aids some years ago.
SA Cares For Life did miracles in informal settlements and had a vision to extend these projects to the Western-Cape and NorSA was born out of this dream.
NorSA focuses on the following:
* Group care: A group of 15 families infected or affected by HIV/Aids are identified. A care worker is identified from the community and trained to take responsibility for the 15 families.
The care worker visits the families every week, offering support, identifying problems and needs and reporting them to the social worker, as well as discussions on subjects the care workers were trained in.
From time to time the different groups are brought together for group sessions with the social worker. The idea is to mobilise communities to, with direction, care for each other.
The group care programme is supported financially by Children of the World, Norway. Norway gets Norwegian families to support the South African families financially. This means that the children can get day care. The money is also used for clothes, school funds or any other needs.
* HIV/Aids counselling centres/information centres: These centres will be built in the community and will be available to the whole community. Every centre will have a counsellor. There will also be support groups.
* Day care centre: The preschool children in the families of the group care programme, are looked after and stimulated in a day care centre.
NorSA is planning two projects, one in Carterville and the other in De Doorns.
Mayor Charmaine Manuel spoke at the inauguration and commended Procare for their vision and passion.
“As government we cannot go it alone, a lot of goodwill from the community is necessary.”
Against the wall of the new office is a dream list: purchasing of land (R9000), fencing (R60 000), ten small tables and chairs for the day care, a stove, an industrial fridge, playground equipment, a wendy house for daycare, a wendy house for a counselling centre and educational toys.
The evening ended on a high note with at least one wish fulfilled: Herman Bailey promised them R10 000 for land, on behalf of the Wellington Community Chest.
You can contact Marietjie on 082-339-8988 or norsa@procare.co.za.
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