Welfare Society AGM takes stock of successes
More than 34, 253 individuals received protective care.
AMANZIMTOTI Child and Family Welfare Society provided protective care to 34,253 indviduals and supervised foster care placement for 1,469 children between April 2013 and March 2014.
The society also provided food aid to 587 households per month, generously sponsored by Amanzimtoti Lions Club during the same period.
This information was relayed at the organisation’s AGM on Friday, September 19, by social work manager, Poovan Naidoo.
A skills training project encompassing beadwork, knitting and cookery classes; computer literacy and a fieldworker training programme were also successful. Lifeskills training was rendered to 3,630 families, which included workshops, presentations, group discussion and awareness programmes on: Parenting skills; child trafficking, protection and abuse; wellness and living a holistic lifestyle; internet safety, women’s empowerment; domestic violence; empowering parents; reflective exercises with foster children; foster parent orientation and holiday programmes.
The society’s statutory services included the investigation of children in need of care and protection. It involved monthly foster parent orientation, which saw some 147 prospective foster parents attend. Children were officially placed in foster care after investigations and children’s court enquiries. It was followed-up with supervision of children in foster care and at child and youth care centres.
In spite of delays in receiving court dates, 72 children’s court enquiries were finalised. “Thanks go to Mr Vezi and his team in accommodating social workers at short notice and his commitment to ensure that the most disadvantaged and vulnerable received timeous and fair assistance and compensation,” said Poovan.
During the year, in-between providing invaluable services to the community, staff also received training in various aspects such as amendments in the Children’s Act; foster care; Sexual Offences Act; social security and impact on the new children’s legislation and more.
In tandem with its services, a grant allowed the society to restructure and expand benefits by deploying six fieldworkers to Adams Mission, KwaMakhutha, Ezimangweni, Magabheni and Ezimbokodweni.
The programme allowed it to widen and enhance networking relationships which reiterated its commitment to uplift the lives of the disadvantaged and disenfranchised communities. Among services provided by the field workers were home visits and assessment of family circumstances and appropriate assistance. Cases of child abuse, neglect and abandonment were brought to the attention of social workers; orphans were referred to the society; children without birth certificates were referred to Home Affairs. Field workers also assisted with a variety of other services. In spite of challenges faced, the society’s outreach into communities benefitted many families.
“I thank our management, staff, volunteers, networking partners, sponsors and relevant stakeholders for their consistent support commitment and dedication to uplifting the lives of vulnerable children and their families,”said Poovan.
