Ekupholeni, place of healing

Germiston-based Ekupholeni Mental Health and Trauma Centre is passionate about helping the community and individuals find healing.
Ekupholeni means “healing place”.

The organisation engages individuals, families and communities in a comprehensive, holistic process of healing, recovery and empowerment.

Ekupholeni was established in 1994 by a psychologist who realised the potentially long-term effects of trauma caused by community violence and killings.

“At the time, community members suffered tremendous political violence during 1980s, during which people died. Some were injured and displaced,” said Zodwa Mzondo, Ekupholeni executive director.

She said the outcome of the political violence coupled with social problems, such as poverty, family breakdowns and overall community instability, traumatised the community.

“The organisation’s first clients were boys and young men from the former self-defence units, who had to deal with the trauma of violence and war-like conditions which they had experienced during the pre-election period in the 1990s,” said Mzondo.

The organisation has since grown to serving over a thousand of people.

“We have entered into a service level agreement with the Department of Health and Department of Social Development that can strengthen the services to orphans and vulnerable children in ensuring that our services are coordinated and collaborated,” said Mzondo.

Ekupholeni renders the following programmes:
• Gender-based violence programme
• Social crime prevention with special focus on youth
• Substance abuse programme
• Dreams programme
• Programme for adolescent girls and young women
• Orphans and vulnerable children programme
• Intimate partner violence programme
• Economic eEmpowerment programme

“The organisation has experience in promoting social justice, gender equality, strengthening community response to HIV and/or promotion of social and behaviour change communication,” said Mzondo.

She said these programmes make a difference in the community.

Like the social crime prevention programme, it focuses on providing services to all persons at risk and in conflict with the law, ensuring social protection and contributing to a safer society, in support of law enforcement and crime combating initiatives.

“Within this programme we engage with the identified persons at risk and in conflict with the law with special focus on rendering preventative programmes and early intervention services which are outcome based,” said Mzondo.

Within the programme there are a number of activities done from youth dialogues and youth crime prevention summits, youth camps and wilderness therapy programmes, life skills programmes, awareness programmes and information sessions.

For more information on Ekupholeni contact Zodwa Mzondo on 011 909 2929.