An oasis of tranquility aids trauma counseling

THE North Durban Victim Support Team (NDVST) gave the trauma room at the Durban North SAPS a make over on Saturday, 5 October.

“When someone comes to the police station to be debriefed or counseled, it’s pretty much the worst day of their life and we found that the room we currently had, resembled the police station, so we had the idea to make it more tranquil and victim friendly,” said Chantell Cromer-Wilson, a NDVST volunteer.

NDVST Chairman, Terry Goulding said the team offers 24 hour services to victims of trauma.
“The team as it is in its form now, started officially in May last year,” he said.

NDVST coordinator, Sadiyya Haffajee said the service is available to victims of crime, trauma, domestic abuse, armed robbery, rape, sexual assault and domestic assault.

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“It is for anything where the person would be traumatised and need some kind of assistance immediately. We are made up of volunteers who give of their own time. We are based at Durban North SAPS. If you call the contact number and we see it fit to go out to you, we will, or we will ask you to meet us here as the conditions are more conducive to counseling,” she added.

The make over was done in collaboration with Grace Family Church and facilitated through corporate sponsorship.

“We were given a budget which we were able to use for the greater good. Everything in the room was purchased, but we also had things made. We had people make curtains, someone made a rug for us and another made a basket, so we were able to up skill people in the community who needed to earn an income,” said Cromer-Wilson.

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With careful planning, the project has had a positive knock-on effect, benefiting other community initiatives, she added.

“Because we have used our budget so well here, we have been able to split the budget and we will facilitate a second room make over at the St Martins Children’s Home on 2 November,” she said.

“The existing furniture in the room was donated to a new baby home in Umlazi which was struggling to find the items they needed,” she added.

For assisstance, call NDVST on 066 483 8589.

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