Rehab centre focuses on lifting darkness of drug abuse

A SECOND chance is what a Brazilian group wants to give to the people of Durban who are suffering with drug and alcohol addiction.
Fazenda da Esperanca or The Farm of Hope was established in 1985 in a small Brazilian community by priest, Fr Hans Stapel.
The German Franciscan friar invited the young people of his parish in Guaratinguetá in the state of São Paulo to meet every day after Holy Mass to reflect and meditate on the daily gospel, and on how they could live the words of Jesus in daily life.

From the beginning, Fazenda was based on three pillars: Spirituality, which gives meaning and direction to their lives; community life, where love and unity are lived; and work, as a concrete way of assuming responsibility for one’s own life.

Thereafter, other communities sprang up in Brazil and five years later, the first community for women was inaugurated. Today there are more than 130 communities in more than 22 countries around the world, with more than 7,000 young people undergoing the rehabilitation programme.
Now, this programme has been brought to South Africa and set up at Bethlehem and through the generosity of South African bishop Jan de Groef, 130 hectares of land was donated to start a rehab centre in KZN.
Recent drug-related killings in Wentworth and as word spreads about the area’s gang culture, the rehab team has been drawn to share their message to Wentworth and surrounding communities to create awareness for Farm of Hope and the help they offer.
“For now we are just starting the centre here in SA and the first community is located in Bethlehem, Free State. Our community is a religious community and we are not in business. We want the families of drug addicts and drug addicts themselves who are willing to change their lives in Wentworth and surrounding areas to join in the programme and to know there is help available. All we ask for is some contribution from the family because we want the family to be involved with the rehabilitation process. The patient will stay with us for one year, of course they will have some necessities and expenses,” said Father Dekson.

READ: Healing walk’ reclaims Wentworth from drug lords
Father Dekson Teope who acted as translator for the Portuguese volunteers said what makes The Farm of Hope different from any other centre is that in their rehabilitation programme, they try not to focus too heavily on people’s history of drugs and addiction and the darkness that needs to be left behind, because that would still not give new direction to their lives. “We serve only to make them aware of what should be avoided. Rather, we try to help them discover a new life, leading them to a personal discovery of God-love as their source of light and happiness, a source which we firmly believe will bring true fulfilment – and abstinence from drugs comes about as a natural consequence,” he added.

READ: Wentworth heroin bust sees 1,500 capsules seized

A former Cape Town gangster, who is now a volunteer at The Farm of Hope and also a recovering addict, Clint Eksteen said Father Dekson and the team have helped him to emerge from the dark space he lived in for 35 years. “I went to Bethlehem because I knew I had a problem. I had a heavy drug problem. My breakfast, lunch and supper consisted of mandrax and dagga. I was a gangster, part of the Mongrels and since the age of 13, I was in jail for 31 years. The Farm of Hope has been God’s blessing and now I see my new purpose to change the youth and make them aware of the dangers of drugs and violence in the Durban communities. I have been in this programme for two weeks but it is a change – it’s start. I want to tell the youth to be careful, what those drug dealers are selling is killing you,” said Eksteen.
If you know anyone who is struggling with drug addiction and needs rehab or for more information, contact Father Dekson on 078-502-2830.

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