Family Life reflects on the highs and lows of 2020
The organisation quickly adjusted to provide online as well as telephonic counselling to assist and support clients suffering from depression, anxiety and trapped in abusive relationships.
The Family Life Centre in Parkwood has experienced a challenging year.
Executive director Jennifer Papers said, “Covid-19 and the lockdown has brought with it many challenges for the organisation. However, the staff remained true and committed to their calling to serve the most vulnerable.”
The organisation quickly adjusted to provide online as well as telephonic counselling to assist and support clients suffering from depression, anxiety and trapped in abusive relationships.
“Following this reality, we realised the need for the organisation to have a specialised GBV [gender-based violence] programme which would highlight all the work done in our communities for abused women and children and addressing violence in homes, schools and communities,” said Papers, who added that the opening of the GBV unit was the biggest highlight of the year.
Family Life also partnered with Rays of Hope and 30 NGOs in Alexandra which formed part of the #Hope4Alex campaign to address the needs of the community during lockdown. Papers successfully led the campaign as the lead social worker, ensuring that the campaign operated safely and efficiently throughout the lockdown.
The organisation also suffered great losses with their training, education for living and mediation departments closing, resulting in the voluntary retrenchment of some highly qualified staff.
The centre encourages community members to form a strong support system ahead of the festive season which comes with the challenges of loneliness, depression, isolation, suicide, hijackings, human trafficking, traffic accidents and child neglect for some.
“Don’t hesitate to reach out to us for psycho-social support. Our staff will be on standby to provide the necessary assistance.”
The centre looks forward to an exciting 2021.
“With a dynamic, energetic and vibrant director and board leading the organisation forward, we can only move up and beyond from here.
“Our vision is clear. We will be transforming into an evolution of modernised technological advancements aimed at getting our very critical services to our communities more efficiently and professionally, while maintaining our core values which is building healthier families.”
Details: 011 788 4784.
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