LOUISE KNOWLES
PORT Alfred Child Welfare held its AGM at Word of Truth Ministries hall last Wednesday to report on the running of the organisation over the past year.
With a caseload of 232 children, senior social worker Susan Harty said Child Welfare’s main aim was to improve the quality of life of children under the age of 10.
Kenton’s senior social worker, Rose Downer, presented a special DVD about Child Welfare’s achievements, events and some of the many children who have benefited from the organisation.
In the financial report, treasurer Gunther Johannsen expressed concern with the delay of the substantial funds Child Welfare usually receives from Lotto.
“Although the application was made 15 months ago, we are still chasing them. Meanwhile we must rely on our reserve which is enough for 10 months,” he said.
Chairman Arthur Isaacs agreed that Lotto funding was a problem in view of the many anti-social issues facing society today.
“We do not know if we have the funding to address the latest issues,” he said.
“We may just as well close down as the delay in funding dampens service delivery. Funding is a battle of survival today,” he said.
Isaacs said substance abuse, child abuse and neglect, and domestic violence were long term issues, but today technology is taking over, and the police are also dealing with cyber issues.
Isaacs thanked everyone who had worked so hard during the year, including Harty, and social auxiliary worker Lizeka Sandlana as well as Downer at Kenton office. He also thanked the foster parents who are at the frontline.
“You become aware what Child Welfare is dealing with on a daily basis when you look at what the foster parents are doing,” he said. “The foster parents are raising the children to be a standard acceptable to society.”
He appealed for money, support and political support, especially from the new mayor. “We don’t want recognition, but when we call on your support, for you to be there to listen.”
He especially appealed to the new mayor to be a champion for and impact on kids’ lives.
“We don’t want them (children) to grow up to be what we don’t want them to be,” he said.
