16 years of providing Domestic Watch lessons
RANDBURG – A resident inspired to make a difference has been providing a variety of lessons during her Domestic Watch projects for 16 years.
A background surrounded by crime for many years has inspired one resident to be Making a Difference (Mad).
Founder and head of Mad Domestic Watch, Penny Steyn said after some ‘horror experiences’ she was a witness to, in particular, her own strangulation, she enlisted the help of the police. One Parkview police officer, Constable Khumela invited her for an eight-hour customer service training of the police in Parkview.
“I trained the whole station at the time, in 2002. Then I became a member of the Executive Committee of the Community Policing Forum (CPF) and took over the Domestic Watch project which was small in those days.”
Steyn added that she has continuously provided these services whenever she gets sponsorship and the recipients of her training are never the same after their training.
“I have also trained many security guards in customer service. If the security guards and the police don’t endear themselves to the community they serve they are not going to get good people to come forward with invaluable information, even if it is just a tip,” she said.
Steyn said getting the community to send their staff members, security companies and some of the police to attend is a challenge she is facing. Those who have attended five or more of Steyn’s lessons receive certificates at the year-end function on 22 November where all are invited. “It is the highlight of the year and any company who might like to give anything towards the event is most welcome to do so.”
The motivational speaker said it is her wish to train others to do the work she does as well as take it nationally if she could find a sponsor to help her do this.
For more information on upcoming monthly lessons, email Penny Steyn madpenny@absamail.co.za
Do you know any other Domestic Watch teachers in your community? Email the details to naidines@caxton.co.za
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https://www.citizen.co.za/rosebank-killarney-gazette/181795/penny-empowers-domestics/amp
