Child Welfare Port Shepstone is dedicated to protecting families

For about 150 years the respective Marburg, Merlewood and Port Shepstone Child Welfare (PSCW ) organisations rendered support to the vulnerable and needy children in the community.

In 1998 these organisations merged and affiliated with Child Welfare South Africa, establishing Child Welfare SA Port Shepstone, a non-profit benefit organisation dedicated to protecting well-being and safety within the family.

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The organisation serves the community from Hibberdene to Shelly Beach and several kilometres inland to Dweshula and Paddock, creating social awareness by means of education, feeding the hungry and providing counselling and statutory assistance in all matters relating to parenting, foster care, adoptions and much more.

Recently the organisation held its 20th annual general meeting at Port Shepstone Senior Primary School hall, which was well attended.

Guest speaker Nonjabulo Moleele, a practising attorney in Port Shepstone and a civil court attorney, spoke on children’s rights and civil rights and the community working together and protecting children.

“This organisation provides an inspiration for all who work, promote and protect children’s rights in the country. We need to create a world where each and every child has a healthy, safe childhood, an opportunity to learn and a voice to speak for them.

“This world will realise that, if we work together to ensure that the children’s fundamental human rights are respected, promoted and protected, the world will be a better place. Children have a special place in society and they deserve love and care,” said Mrs Moleele.

Chairman, Dinesh Pillay said the organisation is faced with national economic uncertainty, political unrest and a lack of sustainable government funding.

“We, as an NGO, are continuously challenged and remain under threat. We have forged ahead in assisting families and children at risk within our community. We have a deficit of about R80 000 per month. However, due to diligent financial austerity measures put into place by our financial team, we were able to deliver a highly effective and efficient service to the affected community,” said Mr Pillay.

Throughout the year the organisation has carried out many awareness programmes in schools and the community, highlighting children’s rights.

Treasurer, Ravi Lautan gave a very in-depth report and was pleased that the organisation had obtained an unqualified audit report. “It has been a difficult number of years for most NPOs in the country. The increase in the VAT rate, coupled with the back-to-back increases in fuel, have seen the prices of food and transport escalate to their highest level.

“It has become a challenge for organisations like PSCW, to continue to function efficiently, as business and individuals alike feel the crunch of the economic situation in the country,” said Mr Lautan.

He added that more fund-raising events would have to be planned in the future in order to sustain a regular flow of funds to the organisation.

New amendments to the constitutional rights of children were discussed. The amendments included the awarding of Section 18A income tax exemption approval for children’s rights NPOs. Donations to the organisation would be tax-deductible in the hands of the donors in terms of and subject to the limitations prescribed in Section 18A of the act. The constitution was amended to comply with the requirements of Section 30 of the income tax act.

The organisation thanked all its donors and sponsors who have helped it throughout the year.

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