Welfare remains positive despite challenging year
Presenting the presidential report of the Boksburg Child Welfare, chairperson Doorsamy Naidoo said, at their AGM on October 2018, that 2016/17 was their most challenging year yet as they were placed under the administration of Child Welfare South Africa, due to a dysfunctional board.
“Regardless of everything, we have still been able to steer an ailing organisation. We express our heartfelt gratitude to the staff, management and volunteers for their endurance and patience to withstand the challenges faced.
“We are also appreciative to our funders and donors who stood by us in tough economic times,” he said.
Vanessa Naidoo- Pillay, assistant director, presented her director’s report, stating despite the many challenges they have never closed their doors and continued to serve the public.
- Thanks
“Many of our programmes are not funded but offer skills, knowledge, motivation, support and kindness. As an organisation servicing the greater Boksburg area we have two Thokomala Homes under our supervision – in Vosloorus and Villa Liza.
“We thank the Thokomala Foundation, headed by Unilever, and many other donors for their generous contributions. Boksburg Child Welfare Home Based Care Group, also known as Asibavikele, based in Vosloorus, is aimed at rendering services to vulnerable beneficiaries infected and affected with HIV/Aids.”
Naidoo-Pillay further said that in July 2016, Dr Stoffel Malopyane, from a Vosloorus surgery, donated and distributed packets of sanitary pads to 14 orphaned girls.
In October 2016, they celebrated cultural day and in November benefited from the annual Afrox Bumbanani Day, which saw 20 foster children enjoy a treat at Carnival City.
Furthermore, in December the organisation marked 16 Days of Activism and World Aids Day and in March, this year, they hosted a testing drive where 78 beneficiaries tested for HIV, diabetes and blood pressure.
- Beneficiaries
During the 2016/2017 financial year the following beneficiaries were serviced by Boksburg Child Welfare:
- 191 households received psychosocial support services.
- 79 child beneficiaries received psychosocial support services.
- 628 adult beneficiaries receive psychosocial support services.
- 132 members receive treatment for psychosocial-related issues.
- 18 youth-headed households receiving psychosocial support.
- 100 beneficiaries receive food parcels (rotates according to schedule).
- 779 social and behaviour change programmes.
According to Naidoo-Pillay, the Keep Me Safe House had to temporarily close because of financial constraints.
“It was impossible to maintain the house, children and provide a salary to the house mother but we hope to secure another donor so that we can re-open the house,” she said.
- Vosloorus office
Some of the problems presented to the Vosloorus welfare office for intervention were inadequate care and supervision of children (misuse of social grants), neglect and abuse, child abandonment, foster care applications, application for birth certificates and identity documents, care and contact for children and uncontrollable behaviour.
Challenges this office encountered included a limited number of working computers, no stable means of communication (no landline phones, mobile unit shared by staff), limited transport for investigations, foster care backlog (dating back to 2011), a delay in form 30 responses and lapsed orders due to clients relocating to other areas.
- Vosloorus office achievements:
- Reduction in foster care backlog.
- All vacancies were filled.
- Seven lapsed orders were reinstated at court.
- 98 Section 16 (2), 20 Section 159, 242 Section 176, 11 section 171, 12 Section 175 and 37 Section 155/156 reports we submitted for the reporting period.
- Reiger Park office
Harry Mukonde, the social work supervisor outlined some of the achievements from the Boksburg and Reiger Park office.
He said 46 foster cases were finalised at the Boksburg Children’s Court.
“Our foster care backlog cases are decreasing in spite of numerous administrative delays from the Department of Justice and lack of co-operation from some clients. The social service team has intensified early intervention services.
The shift and emphasis on early intervention have yielded enormous results as there has been a great reduction in the removal of children from their families to temporary safe care and CYCC’s. Three children were removed during the period under review. This is almost a 70 per cent decline in comparison to the previous year
Mukonde also highlighted that the playgroup in Reiger Park was reopened and enrolled a total of 20 children and they hosted a foster care day celebration event in partnership with the Department of Social Development.
“Some of the challenges we face are that the two offices are facing transport challenges which tends to hamper service delivery. We have outdated computers and have lost important documents due to the system crashing. The office is in dire need of telephone lines,” he said.
Naidoo urged both public and private enterprises to open their hearts and continue supporting the Boksburg Child Welfare.
Contact child welfare on 011 039 4679 (Boksburg), 011 075 3214 (Reiger Park), 011 075 3213 (Vosloorus), nesnaidoo@yahoo.com or hr.bcw.1@gmail.com
