‘DESPITE the coffers running dry over the past five years, LifeLine Zululand has gone from strength to strength.’
That ‘contradictory’ message was given by Chairman Juriana Filmalter to a well-attended AGM held at the Richards Bay Civic Centre on Saturday.
‘I make this statement because I believe meaning to life is far more important than merely being happy and financially secure.
‘What the LifeLine staff and volunteers have been able to do with what little they have is absolutely praiseworthy,’ said Filmalter.
Speaking on a ‘transformation’ theme, LifeLine Director Sue Stephenson reflected on the 20-year growth that has seen the organisation move from a tiny office in Meerensee, catering for one small sector of the population, to where the vast majority of beneficiaries being serviced are in the peri-urban and rural areas.
‘Financially, this was our worst year ever; but despite this we recorded our highest ever number of community engagements.
‘LifeLine appears to have become the first port of call for people needing information and direction and we often refer them to other help sources,’ said Stephenson.
In an interesting reversal of trend, telephone counselling accounted for 64% of the stats, as opposed to 36% face-to-face.
Relationship issues (19% of the total counselling demand) dominated, followed by trauma, crime and violence (14%) and mental health, including stress, bereavement and suicide (11%).
Thanks to the committed work by the directors, board, staff and regular volunteers, operational activities also included community programmes, training and fundraising.
Other services include:
•The LifeLine Rape Crisis Centre based at KwaMsane SAPS offers comfort and counselling to survivors of rape, trauma and gender based violence as well as offering other crisis intervention and counselling services
•The Victim Empowerment programme provides psycho-social support and referral where necessary to survivors of sexual assault, headed by Senior Social Worker, Aaliya Fransch. A 24-hour service is provided at Ngwelezane Hospital, with additional counsellors based at SAPS Empangeni, Esikhaleni and the SAPS Richards Bay counsellor at the main LifeLine office
•The LifeLine Cabanga Club Ambassadors implement dialogues on sexual reproductive health in schools, focusing mainly on pregnancy, HIV and gender based violence and the resources available to survivors
•Project Dignity aids women and girls in poor and under-resourced communities, who cannot afford sanitary wear, which regularly results in their absence from school or work. Over 3 000 sets of re-usable sanitary wear were issued
•The LifeLine Cancer Support Group, run on behalf of Netcare The Bay Hospital, continued to meet on the first Wednesday of every month.
On the positive side, phase one of the renovation of the LifeLine house in Bouhenia Bend was undertaken by the owners, Operation Jumpstart Association.
With the help of the Richards Bay Garden Club, the property received a much needed revamp with clean cut edges, new shrubs, plants and mini birdbaths. Through the generosity of Coe-Lanie garden services, the garden is maintained on a monthly basis.
All donors, sponsors and stakeholders were thanked profusely.
