LifeLine operates well during tough times

‘IF MONEY is the root of all evil, lack of money is the root of personal, family, marital and a host of other social and emotional problems.’

With these words, LifeLine Zululand Chairman Dave Savides presented the tough context in which the organisation is doing business.

Speaking at the AGM on Tuesday, he said the global and local economic downturn has continued its negative trend and this has translated into even more tightening of corporate and sponsor belts.

‘Ironically, while the economy limits our outreach, it increases the number of those who require LifeLine’s services.

‘Joblessness and debt bring tensions that lead to drug and alcohol abuse, crime, domestic violence, fraud, depression and suicide.

‘With fewer resources, LifeLine staff are having to council a greater number of clients.

‘We call on the business and corporate world to not cut their contributions to organisations such as ours that deal with emotional wellness.’

Capacity building

Presenting her annual report, LifeLine Director Michelle Jewlal said during the period under review, the centre realised financial stability and become a hive of operational activities.

‘This included growth and development of staff, volunteers and community members, the personnel benefitting greatly from several capacity building workshops hosted by major sponsors.

‘The organisation participated in 248 networking initiatives – internal and external meetings, stakeholder engagements, forum meetings at local, national and provincial levels – with various stakeholders and NGOs.

‘When compared to 2015/2016 counselling statistics, we saw a noteworthy increase in the ‘relationships’ category.

‘This is significant as the number of incidents regarding social ills is rampant.

‘Interactions between parents and children or partners are becoming intensely stressed as they find it hard to strike a balance with their relationships.’

Incoming board

The Board of Management elected for the 2017/2018 year comprises Dave Savides – Chairman, Mark Stevens, Cyril Thusi, Sifiso Zulu, Faryal Luhar and Clayton Malander.

Service excellence

Report-backs were made on a number of LifeLine projects conducted over the past year:

• LifeLine’s Counselling Desk, including a 24-hour crisis line, is the longest running service, initiated in September 1987.

Offering free telephonic, face to face or email counselling to the community and manned primarily by trained volunteers, the desk supported 818 clients during the year, mainly on issues relating to relationships, loneliness and trauma.

To increase the pool of volunteers, two successful LifeLine Personal Growth and Counselling Skills courses were held.

• Intimate Partner Violence programmes were provided through victim-friendly facilities and trauma rooms at police stations in Richards Bay, Empangeni, eSikhaleni, Mtunzini, Melmoth, Nkandla, KwaMbonambi and Ntambanana.

A total of 510 new clients affected by violence and crime who presented at police stations were among 16 717 community members who participated in campaigns within the King Cetshwayo and uMkhanyakude districts.

• The organisation’s Victim Empowerment Programme, run from the Thuthuzela Care Centre at Ngwelezana Hospital, providing a 24-hour crisis containment and psychological support service for victims of sexual assault and rape, dealt with no fewer than 705 new cases in the past year.

Of these, 64% were under the age of 18 and 94% were female.

The increase in numbers might be attributed to better awareness and a greater willingness on the part of victims to report incidents and seek assistance.

• The three-year Community Sex Workers Programme came to an end in March.
During this time, over 3 000 sex workers were assisted in terms of human rights issues and HIV/Aids counselling and testing and many attended risk reduction workshops.

• The Stepping Stones & Creating Futures programme targeted youth aged 18 to 24 and aimed at behaviour changes promoting sexual health, improving psychological well-being and preventing HIV.

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