PROJECT Exodus has been a lifeline for recovering addicts struggling under lockdown conditions.
According to Conrad Cooper, Director of Anthem Recovery and Project Exodus, addiction thrives in isolation.
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“Lockdown has forced people striving for recovery into the dangerous space of being separated from their rehabilitation support systems,” he said, adding that although many people in recovery programmes had been compelled to physically isolate, it was not a reason for them to be cut off from community.
“Project Exodus, an initiative of Anthem Recovery, has been pro-active in stepping up to the opportunities presented by lockdown and has launched local and nationwide online recovery groups, which have also been accessed internationally.“
Cooper said that, since the start of lockdown, up to 34 recovery groups have met weekly via Zoom. The online recovery groups and online counselling and coaching sessions have established and proven their value by providing a way for those in recovery to break out of addiction-related isolation.
Said one group member, “This is our family and the online meetings are vital for us to keep contact with and support each other on our journey to recovery.”
Cooper added that Project Exodus had been given permission to support the recovery of the homeless addicts at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Project Exodus also launched a 21-day Facebook Challenge (www.facebook.com/projectexodusrecovery) in which readers were encouraged to set short-term goals during lockdown in order to achieve and maintain focus, motivation and productivity.
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AnthemRecovery and Project Exodus work very closely with The Domino Foundation’s Red Light anti-human-trafficking programme, a number of whose beneficiaries have benefited from the recovery programme over the years.
Red Light’s Gugu Mazwele expressedher appreciation of Project Exodus’ commitment to keeping the lifeline available to beneficiaries of Red Light during lockdown.
“Very often, sex-trafficking victims are also caught in the web of addiction. We have seen remarkable breakthroughs into freedom for our beneficiaries through Project Exodus and are grateful that lockdown has not stopped its great work.”
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