TEMBISA SATELLITE OFFICE

The Tembisa community is a vibrant, well organised township that has prioritised the issue of safety for woman and children. The Local Programme of Action for Children is being piloted in this area and has given impetus to all stakeholders working collectively to establish a culture of child rights.

The Childline offices are situated at the Tembisa Multipurpose Centre run by the Ekurhuleni Metro, which is a youth centre that serves to develop young people in the area with a study centre, health centre, drama groups and a library.

Unfortunately our previous co-ordinator, Venice Mbowane has left us for greener pastures and it took 3 months to find the right candidate for the position. We are delighted that Moipone has joined the Childline team and have been encouraged by her commitment to the development of services.

SAFE HOUSE PROJECT

CHILD RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAMME

Here is a breakdown of activities in this section of our services as performed in the Tembisa area during the past year

COUNSELLING

Counselling Statistics:

ACTIVITIES IN TEMBISA

Partnerships

• A partnership has been established with the Tembisa Magistrates Court to assist in the court preparation of young children. A very close working relationship has been established with the senior prosecutors

• Ekurhuleni Local Programme of Action for Children and Woman has been established in the area for the East Rand as an intersectoral meeting of all stakeholders. The Tembisa Local Plan of Action is a community arm of the larger group. All stakeholders work collectively to provide services for the area and to carry out prevention programmes

• Tembisa Stakeholders Meeting is a community of all social service organisations including, SAPS, CPU, Health Workers, POWA, Criminal Justice System and the Department of Social Development. All problems experienced in the criminal justice system are discussed and resolved in this forum. An example of excellent community work involves the Tembisa Hospital Crisis Centre which closes at 4pm, rendering child rape survivors unable to access services after hours. This forum is currently lobbying for increased resources to ensure that the centre remains open for 24 hours, 7 days per week

• Posters have been distributed to schools in the area, the Magistrates Court, Tembisa Hospital Crisis Centre, Tembisa and Ivory Park Police Stations and the clinics in the area. These posters advertised the Childline Helpline

•  Childline Coordinator attended a National Children's Day celebration at Ethafeni Park organised by the Siyazigabisa Home of Hope and Zimbanathi project which is a support group for HIV-infected and affected people. 200 children and caregivers received an awareness talk

• Participation in the School Safety Committee run by Ekurhuleni Police Department where we were able to popularise messages of peace and non-violence to 700 pupils from Isiziba Primary School. 11 disclosures were received from children who had been abused

Highlights during the past year

• Reaching 15 955 young people at 16 schools for Child Protection Week

• Appointment of a very skilled therapist Moipone Matso

• Launch of the Tembisa Court where Childline showcased our work

• Mikata Primary School invited Childline Tembisa to host a special day on Child Protection Week. The Coke a Cola pantechnicon arrived with a sound system for local young artists to showcase their talents. A message from Stephen regarding peace and non violence for children and woman was delivered to 1800 young people

• Sadly a fire destroyed several homes in Madelakufa Informal Settlement. Many children were left homeless and Childline Tembisa was able to offer clothing to these young people who were left destitute. The Department of Social Development assisted the families to rebuild their homes

• The Voice of Tembisa was granted a community radio licence. Childline has been involved with this initiative for the past year and we are delighted that this radio station takes up children's issues vociferously

• The Tembisan Community newspaper has run a very complimentary article on Childline's role in the community

• The Department of Social Development invited Childline Tembisa to participate in the Social Grants Awareness Campaign at the Tembisa Civic Centre. This initiative facilitated the dissemination of information of the Child Care Grant

• Childline Tembisa was invited to present our services at the launch of People Opposing Woman Abuse (POWA) at the Kempton Park Civic Centre to 50 stakeholders

• Elim Clinic works closely with Childline regarding their peer counselling and volunteer programmes