Newcastle Child Welfare’s AGM: Gajoo highlights year’s successes and challenges

A detailed report was tabled at the Newcastle Child Welfare’s Annual General Meeting held recently which highlighted various issues the organisation has faced over the past financial year.

Manager Farieda Mia reported back on various services rendered by the organisation.

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“In terms of funding our Service Level Agreement with the Department of Social Development (DSD), this had to be aligned to the DSD Social Sector, National and Provincial Priority as well as DSD Specific Needs Department.”

“The alignment to social sector priorities included services related to early childhood development, preventative, awareness and therapeutic programmes and partnerships with relevant forums covering substance abuse, victim empowerment, domestic violence and child protection,” she stated.

Furthermore, she revealed that the intake services were rendered to 140 families, while also providing therapeutic non-statutory services to 852 individuals and families.

“Our target of 80 family preservation cases and 80 cases of psycho-social counselling to orphans and vulnerable children was achieved,” she reported proudly.

Statutory services were rendered to 93 children, and activities undertaken included individual and family counselling, foster parent screening, the opening of Children’s Court inquiries and finalisation and transfers to alternative care.

“We were also able to ensure that contact between children and their families was maintained and we arranged for holiday leave,” she said.

She added that the Crisis Centre also undertook several awareness and prevention programmes with children and adults to commemorate Child Protection Week.

She went on to discuss resignations and new appointments, while addressing various other activities conducted over the past year. In her summing up she thanked all the well-wishers, the local press, volunteers, her colleagues and all stakeholders for their support and cooperation.

“To the Managing Committee, I express my gratitude for the care and concern you display for the welfare of the staff and the community we serve. To my colleagues at the office, I thank you for hanging in there and for your contribution to successful team work,” she said.

Thereafter, Chairman Morris Gajoo delivered the Chairperson’s Report, in which he discussed matters concerning the state of the organisation.

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“Another year has gone by and despite celebrating our many achievements and successes, so many challenges still remain. South African welfare policies, like those of many other countries in the world, are still influenced by global economic trends. Millions of people have slid down into poverty in SA, and this naturally suggests that the caseloads of social workers, especially at Child Welfare organisations, have increased,” he said.

He spoke of various other problems the organisation faces, from poor financial support to lack of manpower and the country’s declining economic growth rate, amongst various other topics. The meeting was concluded with Gajoo thanking his colleagues for their hard work and dedication to Child Welfare, despite the ever changing obstacles and constant challenges.

“To the staff, a rose for each one of you for your tirelesss effort in trying to keep the centre operational despite the multitude of challenges from lack of funding to high work loads. You have performed exceptionally well. To my Management Committee, who throughout the year was a source of great inspiration and who were always eager to advise and provide assistance when and where required. A gigantic thank you,” he concluded.

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