ALTA McMaster is a familiar name and face in the South. She is a fairy godmother to young boys and girls who struggle to find matric farewell outfits. She is a counsellor, she helps develop skills, she is a mother and above all, she is a strong and independent woman who strives to empower our future generation.
Alta (53) was born in the South and is the founder of the EPIC (Empowering People In Crisis) Foundation. She attended South Hills Primary, a Heidelberg boarding school and then Diversity High School. She completed a year of secretarial college after matriculating and has always enjoyed working with people. Alta later went on to study Human Resources part-time at UNISA and worked at various companies. She has now been employed for 26 years by PWC in Sunninghill.
Understanding helplessness
“I work for PWC from 6am to 12 noon. I end off my days at the Epic Foundation at the Supreme Industrial Park in Steeldale. When I get home after 5pm or so I work the balance of my eight hours for PWC so I can get paid my full salary,” she explained. “When I’m at the Epic Foundation, it doesn’t feel like work.”
Having experienced various traumas in her own life, Alta has a deep understanding of how lonely and helpless one can feel if no one reaches out. Having experienced these situations in life encouraged her to provide a helping hand to others in the form of assisting with the empowerment of survivors of trauma. It was after 21 years of marriage that Alta discovered her husband was taking drugs and involved with other men. She describes these as the ‘Tsunamis’ in her life. Her husband’s business was liquidated and he became aggressive. He died of a drug overdose about 17 years ago, a week before their divorce could come through.
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Small beginnings
The Epic Foundation’s comfort pack project began in a room of Alta’s home in October 2010. She has established a wide network for distributing these bags, ranging from small victim empowerment centres which are linked to police stations, to larger rape crisis/trauma centres. As the need for this project has grown tremendously over the last year, it was decided to establish the Epic Foundation to be able to serve the Gauteng community better. The business was only registered in April 2013 after Alta decided to come out with her story and reach other survivors of rape and abuse.
“We live in a society where people often find themselves in difficulty due to trauma, crime, unemployment and other circumstances beyond their control. Everyone has the right to be given assistance to help work through these hard times and to be empowered to uplift their lives. It is our mission to put projects and tools in place to make this possible for men, women and children,” said Alta.
Alta spoke to the CHRONICLE as volunteers swamped the building to help. She spoke of the many awards she has received over the years – all unexpected – and how grateful she is for the recognition.
Limited space
“We attempted once again to get our rental amount reduced as it has become very difficult for us to keep up with the monthly payment for our offices – our request has unfortunately again been turned down. We have been looking out for alternatives but no luck as yet. In today’s economic climate it is very difficult to get anyone to sponsor space or to even reduce rental amounts to a non-profit organisation,” she explained.
The Epic Foundation is desperately looking for any space or anyone who can assist. A minimum of 300 square metres is needed for their various projects. In the meantime, a request is being made for people to come forward and assist financially to help with the lease amount in the current place.
Payments can be made to Epic Foundation, Bank: FNB, Branch: Alberton 250655, Type: Business Account, Account number: 62413013484. If you want to volunteer or find out more about the many services or projects the Epic Foundation runs, then email info@epicfoundation.org.za
Also Read:
Gauteng’s Hero for June: Alta McMaster
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