Helping Hand focuses on social services with survey
“Now, more than ever before, much pressure is being put on the emotional, financial and physical well-being of individuals, families and communities, and social workers are playing an integral part in creating hope out of despair.”
Solidarity Helping Hand recently conducted a nationwide community analysis that yielded astonishing results.
It drew attention to the challenges currently facing the country’s social workers.
Christia Potgieter, Helping Hand’s head of social work services, said that on World Social Work Day (March 15) the spotlight was placed on the profession of social work services.
“Now, more than ever before, much pressure is being put on the emotional, financial and physical well-being of individuals, families and communities, and social workers are playing an integral part in creating hope out of despair.
“The important contribution that social workers daily provide in society can never go unnoticed, and it is usually this profession that acts first to create order out of chaos,” said Potgieter.
Solidarity Helping Hand recently conducted a nationwide community analysis. More than 15 000 respondents in Afrikaans communities participated in the analysis.
The following needs stood out:
– about seven out of 10 people need financial guidance;
– about six out of 10 people need to get out of debt;
– about six out of 10 people are financially worse off than three years ago;
– one in two people experience depression, anxiety and loneliness in their community;
– one in two people experience marital conflict;
– one in four people experience alcohol abuse in their community;
– one in four people experience unplanned pregnancy and divorce in their community;
– one in four people experience violent crime and bullying behaviour in their community;
– one in five people sometimes cannot afford medication.
Potgieter said Solidarity Helping Hand’s division for social work services believes that the challenges mentioned above are best handled by community development, as everyone within a particular community has human potential.
“The results obtained through the above study, therefore, determine the type of programmes and projects that are essential in a community.
“The team of social workers of Solidarity Helping Hand is dedicated and passionate about making targeted programmes and projects available to vulnerable children, to support families, senior citizens and people with disabilities and realise their full potential with them,” she said.
ALSO READ: New taxi chairman prioritise safety for passengers
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
