Anti-drug awareness campaign held in Grobler Park
The church also arranges meals for the less fortunate who attend church as this is sometimes their only meal for the day.
On Saturday, February 18 Glow 4 Jesus Support Group based in Krugersdorp held their Anti-Drug Awareness Campaign in Grobler Park at the Groblersrus Complex.
Community members, organisations, and different stakeholders braved the wet conditions and came out in their numbers to support the substance abuse awareness campaign held in their area.
According to Glow 4 Jesus Non-Judgemental Church Leader, Sweis Harmse, the support group started after their first Anti-Drug Awareness Campaign held in Krugersdorp on March, 21 last year.
“We saw the need in Krugersdorp and decided in the Will of God to start the support group. We are a group of people that were freed from drug addiction, some of the group members were never on drugs or never had any addiction.
“As a group, we can see and know exactly what people out there are going through, we want to give them a fair chance to turn their lives around and, in some cases, to stay alive,” said Harmse.
On the day attendees were made aware that those who join the group will not be judged or refused no matter what the addiction may be.
Harmse said the group has had some cases where young people visited the meetings and reached out to them, still using drugs and later making the decision to stop drugs.
According to the support group, in urgent cases of addiction, people are admitted to the Quegal Restoration & Refuge Centre (QRRC) where they receive the necessary help.
“They have to follow certain rules of the rehabilitation center before they enroll in the program, that is where we come in.
“We have to make sure they stay off drugs until the admission date, they also have to attend meetings at the support group and on the day of admission they have to present a negative drug test.
“We have to ensure they have the necessary clothing and toiletries on the day of admission and we are sourcing this ourselves as we do not have sponsorships yet.
“It gets tough as we need to buy all the tests ourselves as the finances allow us to, we ask for any donations in any way [testing kits, clothing, toiletries],” said Harmse.
The Glow 4 Jesus Non-Judgemental Church opened in March 2022 in the heart of Burgershoop in Krugersdorp where people of all ages can attend.
The church also arranges meals for the less fortunate who attend church as this is sometimes their only meal for the day.
According to Harmse, most people rely on food donations as they have no income to provide for themselves.
“We try to help where and when we can, we aim to get sponsors so we can provide food for people. Since we started the church and the group, the number of people reaching out to the group for help is growing by the day. We ask everyone to please assist us in any way you can to make a difference in people’s lives – God bless you,” Harmse concluded.
READ MORE: Helping addicts overcome their addiction
Members of the community who would like to assist in any way are encouraged to contact Sweis Harmse on 061 317 4698 or Heleen-Marie Treptow on 074 503 7148.
