Child Welfare South Africa Newsletter

FROM THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S (NED) DESK

Child Welfare South Africa (CWSA) has maintained the momentum of highlighting the need for child protection on all fronts. Child protection remains a priority for CWSA..

NASW-SA TO HOLD CONFERENCE

The first independent conference of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW-SA) was held from 28 to 30 September 2011 in Durban. The theme of the conference was “Repositioning Social Service Professions for a Developmental State.”

BENNY OBAYI: ASIBAVIKELE PROGRAMME COORDINATOR FOR EASTERN CAPE

Benny Obayi is the Asibavikele: Let’s Protect Them Provincial Programme Coordinator for Eastern Cape Province.

REFLECTING ON CWSA’S JOURNEY ON MANDELA DAY

As the world reflected on Madiba’s legacy on his birthday this year, we at CWSA also took the opportunity to reflect on the journey that CWSA has travelled. Madiba’s values of selfless giving is what CWSA’s history is built on.

CONGRATULATING PRAVEEN SHAM ON HIS NEW APPOINTMENT

On behalf of the CWSA, the National Executive Director, Ashley Theron would like to congratulate Praveen Sham on his appointment as a co-chairperson of the Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) in March 2011.

CWSA in the Process of Establishing Offices in Mafikeng

CWSA Provincial Manager Enock Zibengwa in action during one of the community consultations

Seven out of ten children in the North West province live in households where income is below R570 per month. They also live in overcrowded conditions and mostly in under-serviced areas. Children from the North West have some of the longest distances to travel to get to school, according to the Children’s Institute, in their 2010 publication,"Statistics on Children in South Africa."

The community is taking action; CWSA and the Department of Social Development have been holding consultation meetings to set up a local Child Welfare Office and roll out the Asibavikele: Let’s Protect Them programme. As a result of these consultative meeting, CWSA is setting up services in Mafikeng, the capital of North West province. Office space has already been secured and a team of community volunteers identified and trained in the Asibavikele community programme.

“We have had overwhelming support from the community and local organisations,” says Provincial Manager Enock Zibengwa. “We especially thank the residents of Section 39 in Mafikeng who have gone out of their way to help us get things going in their community.”

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Ashley Theron