Funding for Famsa West Rand an urgency

A seemingly small and forgotten organisation that renders counselling services might be forced to close its doors because of a lack of funding.

In the past 35 years Families South Africa West Rand (Famsa West Rand) has adapted its name as often as adapting its list of services. They offer from family, personal and couple counselling to life-skills training, parent and marriage preparation and an array of support groups. The branch also established satellite offices in underprivileged communities on the West Rand.

The Roodepoort branch was founded in 1979 under the name Family and Marriage Society of South Africa West Rand, recognising a need on the West Rand for family counselling. At the time the West Rand had the highest divorce rate in South Africa, director Jane Pretorius says in a press statement. As a last resort to source funding Pretorius approached the Roodepoort Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Rocci) recently.

“The hard truth is that this place requires R2,5 million per year to stay afloat, and only about half of that is covered by government subsidies,” she says. For the rest Pretorius and her small team depend on corporate donations, proceeds from fundraisers and public support.

In the past the organisation received funding from the National Lottery Board, but this year was declined as a beneficiary with the body citing dwindling funds and shifting interests as reasons. In an interview with the record Pretorius said should the situation not improve drastically within the next few months, they’ll be forced to close their doors.

“Employees’ salaries already were reviewed and decreased to distribute our dwindling funds better,” says Pretorius, adding that “by the end of September I was able to pay out only 80 per cent of the already reduced salaries.”

A longtime supporter of the organisation nominated Famsa West Rand for a Rocci award of excellence, which in turn afforded Pretorius the opportunity to state her case to top Roodepoort entrepreneurs. After learning what the organisation does for the community, one entrepreneur donated R25 000.

“However, we cannot depend solely on one meeting with one body to secure all our funding; we are appealing to the community to assist us either with finances or fulfilling our wish list for the 2014/ 2015 period,” Pretorius says.

Famsa West Rand is located at 16 Dieperink Street in Roodepoort CBD. For further information or to donate contact Tertia Carroll on 078 885 0825.

Famsa West Rand’s wish list:

• Funding for community development programmes, and vehicle and fuel costs, and maintenance

• Upgrading premises (signage, blinds, paint, garden and domestic help)

• Expansion (needs more office space)

• Office equipment (high-volume photocopier, switchboard system, ink cartridges, copier paper, stationery, filing cabinets and office furniture)

• IT services (website and social media setup and maintenance)

• Developing their satellite branches