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EMPOWER RURAL COMMUNITIES
by WCDOA pubs
Fight substance abuse and gender-based violence
by Melvin Genuka
TThe Rural Development Programme, one of the eight programmes within the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA), completed two Agri-Worker Household Census Cycles by March 2017 and March 2021 that emphasised the need for interventions related to substance abuse and gender-based violence (GBV) awareness and prevention.
This programme committed themselves to address these social illnesses and joined hands with the organisation FASfacts
Worcester to empower rural communities to take responsibility to ensure the reduction of substance abuse and eradicate GBV.
The Substance Abuse Awareness and Prevention Project was successfully implemented in the Overberg (Riviersonderend), Garden Route (Slangrivier) and Central Karoo (Merweville).
Thirty-one community representatives were identified as the “champions” who completed a three-day training, as well as two community awareness sessions on foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), alcohol and drug abuse, GBV and to serve as a community champion and mentor. They were recruited by the community development officers of the Department with the assistance of social welfare organisations and other community leaders. They are indeed the champions in their communities who committed themselves to stop the cycle of abuse and put their money where their mouth is. We salute the champions who took full responsibility for this project since their first engagement. Their passion already spilt over to other departments, municipalities and community organisations who partnered with them to address substance abuse, foetal alcohol syndrome and GBV. More than 220 people were already reached through community awareness sessions in the three districts through their community outreaches at local clinics and community events.
By investing in this project, the Department not only contributes to combat social ills that plague our rural communities but also invested in the development of rural communities. This project is testimony that working together across the different spheres of government can reap rewards.
