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PEOPLE'S POST | RETREAT Thursday, 13 February 2014
STEENBERG: HELP FOR FAMILIES
New hope for a lost community TAURIQ HASSEN @TauriqHassen
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on’t despair. There is hope. That’s the message from New Hope Against Poverty and Abuse (NHAPA), a newly-established organisation with the mission to assist women, men and families overcome trying circumstances. This is to be done through skills development programmes, interventions and awareness projects. Chairperson for the organisation Natasha Carelse explains that the objective behind the organisation is to provide a “comprehensive range of services which are accessible to everybody”. The organisation specialises in technical, business and academic training, holiday programmes for children, substance abuse awareness and HIV awareness. “We believe that healthy family bonds lead to healthy family growth and it influences families to become positive roleplayers within their families and communities,” Carelse says.
GET THE MESSAGE: New Hope Against Poverty and Abuse aims to make a difference in the community by offering support to families and individuals struggling with drug, alcohol and abuse problems. PHOTO: NHAPA FACEBOOK PAGE The organisation also recently opened alcohol, drug addiction and co-dependent support groups in Steenberg, where a 12-step recovery programme is on offer. “The focus is to empower individuals and families through our various programmes that will
have a positive effect on families and the community,” Carelse says. “Our ultimate goal is that individuals and families become selfsustained, productive, positive members of their communities, as they realise their dreams by acquiring the necessary skills and
Super science
through counselling.” A Steenberg mother of four, who spoke on condition of anonymity, has had endless problems with drug and alcohol abuse in her home. With three of her four children using drugs and a husband abus-
ing alcohol, she is relieved to hear about NHAPA. “I have been to support groups in the past; some worked and some just made my family even worse. It’s a real challenge in my home, having to try and cure my three children and husband, as well as trying to prevent my youngest child from following in the same path,” the mother says. When asked if she would be interested in joining the group, she says: “I am always interested in getting help, but the people who really need it are at that point where they have no more fight left in them.” Carelse calls on all families affected by drug addiction, alcohol and abuse to contact them. V Support groups are hosted at the Steen berg Community Centre, on the corner of Craddock Road and Symphony Avenue, every Wednesday from 19:00 to 21:00. There is no cost; all welcome. For addition al information on the programmes or the organisation, contact Carelse on 079 286 8410, email newhopeagainst povertyandabuse@gmail.com or like the NHAPA Facebook page.
Neighbours make communities safer Is your neighbour able to reach you while you’re on holiday or while at work when suspicious activity is noted at your home? Neighbours are usually the first to notice activity around the homes of their neighbours and they are urged to take a unified approach towards crime prevention in their areas. “Awareness of neighbours’ daily routines, and those of the domestic staff, as well as the surroundings of the neighbourhood, makes it easier to notice suspicious people, vehicles and activity,” says Rob Dale, the managing director of a private security services company. He says his business has seen success in this regard in communities where residents are actively involved, and know their neighbours and neighbourhoods. Dale also encourages neighbours to share security tips. “It is also important to report suspicious individuals, or vehicles, to security providers or the police, as this will enhance their understanding of activity in
the area and implement effective crime prevention tactics,” he says. Dale has suggested a few tips to community members to keep their neighbourhoods safe. “Neighbours should exchange cellphone numbers so it will be easy to contact each other in the case of an emergency. They can also agree to keep an eye on each other’s properties should they be on vacation and to also do small chores on each other’s behalf at the homes of neighbours so that the houses will not seem unoccupied,” he suggests. Dale says by working together as each other’s eyes, community members, neighbours, the police and security providers can make your suburb a no-go zone for criminals. Parents are also asked to introduce their children to the neighbours so they can keep an eye on them. This should also be done in case children feel unsafe when home alone so that they can go over to the neighbour’s homes and wait until their parents return.
Lifeline to small business owners
ENERGISED: Budding scientists and science lovers flocked to the Green Point Urban Park for the inaugural Renewable Energy Festival on Saturday. There was plenty of interesting exhibitions for young and old, including the educational exhibition of varying liquid thickness, which fascinated eight-year-old Gia Matthee, by the provincial education department and the Cape Town Science Centre. PHOTO: NASIEF MANIE/FOTO24
Last chance to make your vote count If you missed this weekend’s final registration drive, don’t panic – there is still time to register to cast your vote. But time is running out. Eligible voters can make an appointment to register at their local IEC offices. Registration closes at 17:00 on the day the elections are proclaimed. This is expected to happen before month end, officials confirm. A record 25.3m South Africans are now registered and ready to vote.
Over 80% of those eligible to vote are registered to cast their ballot on Wednesday 7 May for the national and provincial elections. A total of 1.2m first-time voters have registered and 80% of them are between the ages of 16 and 30, IEC chairperson Pansy Tlakula says. Registered voters can SMS their ID number to 32810 to check whether their registration details are correct. SMSes cost R1. Visit www.elections.org.za/content for more details.
Provincial government is driving a twomonth entrepreneurship awareness campaign in the province to highlight the support offered to new and emerging businesses. In the past year, 30 000 entrepreneurs have accessed provincial government’s small business support services. Alan Winde, provincial minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, says the recently launched campaign is targeting small businesses across the province. “The (provincial) government has several small business support initiatives for entrepreneurs. These include the Partner Network and the Red Tape Reduction programme,” he says. Residents, especially those living in historically disadvantaged areas, are encouraged to make use of these services, Winde urges. “Small businesses are the engine room of our economy. They are key job creators. We need to create an environment where our entrepreneurs can thrive so they are able to contribute to economic growth in our region.” The Partner Network, a partnership between the provincial government and the
Small Enterprise Development Agency, is comprised of 20 economic development centres across the province. Areas with a centre include the Cape Town CBD, Khayelitsha and Philippi. “Since the Partner Network was established in September 2012, 29 854 residents have accessed business advice services there. These include company registrations, access to finance, website development and assistance with compliance. It is our hope that more people will use the support services we’re offering to get their businesses off the ground,” Winde says. Launched in 2011, the Red Tape Reduction Unit has dealt with 2000 cases with a resolution rate of 87%. “Red tape is one of the biggest barriers to economic growth. According to the SME Growth Index, small businesses spend 4% of their turnover on red tape. “Our goal is to create an environment where businesses can flourish without being burdened by unnecessary regulations. In this way the Western Cape will become known, globally, as an efficient place to do business,” Winde adds. V Phone the Red Tape call centre on 0861 888 126.