KATORUS SATELLITE OFFICE

The Katorus project is one of Childline's Community development models of service delivery which has proved to be very successful in providing treatment for survivors of child rights violations and preventative services in previously violence-torn areas.

The Childline office in  Katorus offer a comprehensive package of services, including:

• counselling; 
• education and prevention in schools; 
• awareness raising;
• short term foster care in our Sunlight Safe Homes.

The Childline Katorus office has grown into a vibrant community centre that is situated at the Resource Centre in Ramokunopi.

Childline Katorus has continued to thrive as a result of being situated at the Katorus Resource Centre, which provides a one-stop service centre for children. Our co-ordinator, Stella Gcaba-Buthelezi has done a sterling job of developing relationships with local stakeholders in the interests of service provision. Sadly children continue to suffer secondary abuse as they take the courageous step of reporting their abuse to the Criminal Justice System. She is working within the system to improve the situation.

Under the leadership of Lineo Rapotapi and now Alucia Nkosi, they have established a dynamic, child-friendly centre. They have made a significant contribution to healing the wounds of the horrific political violence during the past decade, which impacted significantly on the incidence of child abuse in this community.

SAFE HOUSE PROJECT

One of the new initiatives at the Katorus Office was the training of peer counsellors and volunteers, the Sunlight Safe House Project, an economic development project.

CHILD RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAMME

The Child Rights and Responsibilities Education Project as another of the Katorus Office's new initiatives during the past year

• 20 105 Children and young people participated in the school talks programme, assisting them to identofy, prevent and disclose all forms of violence against children.

• Community volunteers and 3 Peer Counsellors from each high school were trained in basic counselling, life skills,

• HIV/AIDS counselling and presentation skills. These valuable Childline volunteers are available to offer support to young people in schools who have experienced abuse. They are supervised on a weekly basis.

COUNSELLING

• 745 Sessions of face-to-face counselling were offered.

• Group Counselling

The following groups were run by the co-ordinator:

• Child survivors of sexual abuse.

• The Economic Development Group.

• Child perpetrators of sexual abuse.

• Group for sexually abused young boys.

• Sexual abuse survivors.

ACTIVITIES IN KATORUS

Partnerships

Positive relationships are in place with all social service providers in Katorus, including the Local Metropolitan Council, Department of Welfare, Katorus Child and Family Counselling Centre, Child Protection Unit, FAMSA, National Peace Accord Trust and Kelia Early Learning Project, Khanya Family Centre, People Opposing Woman Abuse, Ekopholeni Mental Health Centre and Germiston Child Welfare.

Highlights during the past year

• 6 schools and 1730 children were targeted for the Child Protection Week programme of awareness raising

• Appointment of a new co-ordinator, Stella Gcaba-Buthelezi who has turned the project around

• Eketsang High School invited the co-ordinator to be the key note speaker during their Annual General Meeting. 650 Parents were moved by the words of our co-ordinator

• Membership of the Germiston Networking Forum ensured marketing of all stakeholder services and training by Jesuit Refugee Services in provision of services for refugee children

• The Child Protection Unit invited the co-ordinator to address a high level meeting of all their officers in Katlehong

• 10 Child survivors of abuse were taken to Suikerbosrand for a wilderness trail / healing process

• Membership of the Ekurhuleni Metro Local Plan of Action for Woman and Children to ensure that children receive appropriate services

• Membership of Living in Hope which provides care for persons infected and affected by HIV/AIDS

• Visit to Childline Katorus by the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund's international visitors

• Attendance at the Volunteer Child Network workshop to attract volunteers

• Attendance at the Themba Lesizwe Trauma workshop in Durban

• Attendance at the beginners and advanced play therapy

• Programme on the Katorus Community Radio - TNG