Creating pathways out of adversity
A Genesis Social Work Report for February and March 2024
Our January to February
It’s in the beginning of the year; already there is high rate of gender-based violence cases in Bhobhoyi community. Several cases of woman and children abuse reported at the Nobamba safe place. Mothers are abusing their children and fathers are abusing their spouses and children. I wish everyone could have a belief that God is there, and Jesus is alive. Maybe the high rate of Gender based violence might decrease, and people starts living without fear.
A case stood me out is the one where 15-year-old boy from Sphakamile primary school had a problem of being a slow learner at school. He can’t read or write. Psychologist doctor confirmed that and he suspected (intellectual disorder). He had been so angry after he received the news, he couldn’t accept himself. I provided psychosocial counselling and home visits. He’s attending surfing at Genesis surfer’s academy. Surfers coach didn’t complain about him. He’s family told us that they are so worried because the school sent them a letter saying, they don’t know what to do about his problem because there is no change. Genesis offered him an opportunity to go to St Natal. They requested all the documents from previous school including psychological doctor’s letter before they started to assess the child. They did their assessment but he will need more special needs. Special schools will assist him better. Thanks to Genesis family and to everyone participated on this case.
Statistics (21/01/2024 -20/02/2024)
GBV cases: 11
Social worker’s intervention: 11
Food parcels: 1
Identity documents: 3
Medically Emergency Cases: 7
Police intervention: 1
TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES = 34
Plan of Action
• To attend new case, doing follow up and providing home visits.
• To carry on doing research in everything can assist my clients.
Our February to March
It’s been an engaged month since I was engaging in the intervention of cases for children abuse and domestic violence. I was busy doing psychosocial counselling and support, home visits and one on one interviews. All cases of children abuse have been referred to Child Welfare for attention like court case etc. I must say, seeing the family members fighting to each other and trying to kill one another is so terrible until God sent me as a third party to attend their crisis, by creating a safe place for them in order to be able to resolve their issues.
It’s been an awkward and exciting moment at the same time, while I was listening to them tried to speak out everything, crying and apologizing to each other as well as hugging each other. reconciliation is beautiful thing. It is also shocking to see how many women abandoned their children due to psychosocial problems, which caused the high rate of children abuse cases. The whole community need prayer so that they would be able to differentiate between right and wrong. 2nd Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land”.
The case stood out for me was the case of 3 siblings (8,6 &4 years old). They were abandoned by their biological parents, both they’ve decided to carry on with their life without them. This case has been successful and attended very well. I interviewed all closest people (relatives, neighbors, and parents). I did fully assessment to make sure that they received their child support grant, and they’ve registered in school. I would like thank Genesis for the help of the school uniform. Home visits done and telephonically interviews to make sure they are living in a good condition and their legal guardian is right for them. I will also make the follow up process, monthly.
Statistics (21/02/2024 -20/03/2024)
GBV cases = 11
Social worker’s intervention = 14
Food parcels = 2
Identity documents = 0
Medically Emergency Cases = 4
Police intervention = 4
TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES = 35
Plan of Action
• To attend new case, doing follow ups and home visits.
SOCIAL WORKERS REPORT FEBRUARY 2024
Introduction
This has been the busiest month in the SafePlaces, although we are sad that people are exposed to so much hurt and crime, we also thank God that SafePlaces are there to ensure that help is accessible to some people in the community.
SafePlaces
• The Norwegian team has been of great help in the past few months at SafePlace, which has made a great difference and also made the community workers feel seen in their work. This also has helped us to see the need to have the community workers trained especially in first aid as this has been the area of most concern.
• SafePlay has been going very well and it is obvious that there is a need for it in the community. The children have now started to learn basic colours and counting up to 10 we thank Thuli for that and providing us with material to use. The aim is to help the children to have a few hours of a safe environment to play in and have access to a meal, however a need to teach them basic educational programs are needed as they are of the age where learning is important for them.
• Home Visits have been going very well, the only issue we are facing is that, in the community members want the help to go hand in hand with the food parcel.
Challenge
• The cases of substance abuse have been a challenge because the clients do not want to attend project exodus and we are unable to help them without them taking some responsibility for their recovery.
• Gender Based Violence is still the problem in the community and the survivors do not want to file for protection orders and it results in most cases at night being of domestic violence. Even though we try and follow up with the aim to educate they are not willing to put boundaries in place for their partners.
Statistics
• Police 13 (GBV=11)
• Ambulance 26
• Social Workers 28
TOTAL67
SOCIAL WORKERS REPORT MARCH 2024
Introduction
Looking forward to the death and the resurrection of our Lord Jesus, it is a reminder that he did not die for some but for all, it also makes us look and treat other people with caution as we always remember that we are sinners and fall short in many ways as Romans 3:23 says “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.
It has been a huge blessing to be a part of SafePlace and the connection with the Mkholombe community in terms of reaching out to them through children and SafePlay. The project of following up with the vaccinations and deworming is growing and the community members are welcoming it very well. Mbali is already familiar with them from her time with the Health Department, and they already trust her. We are looking forward to what else God will do in that place.
SafePlaces
• The cases from MCC have been coming in a lot lately and there has been a challenge with the children (boys) that are sleeping with each other just for fun, all this is happening outside of MCC. This for them is an experiment, however there is a lot of damage that is happening and needs to be rectified. The student counselor Marcella will start a program with them as soon as possible together with the help of the team.
• With the schools closed it has been a bit difficult to fit all the children in the SafePlace for SafePlay, as much as we love to have big numbers we also would love to ensure that our regular children are still getting the services that they are accustomed to without excluding the community children, because now that schools are closed they also are not getting the meal that they normally get during break at school, we then have to navigate that in order to still serve as we are called to.
• GBV is still on the rise at Mkholombe, this has inspired us to start a men’s group with the purpose of educating them about the dangers of hitting women and the impact it has on children as we have witnessed during SafePlay that a lot of children find it easy to resort to violence even during play.
Compliments
• The community workers have been very active in the SafePlaces especially when it is SafePlay and they are starting to own it because even when we do not have teams they come through and serve some even during their day off. Their willingness is really appreciated.
• Senzo for always helping even when he has a hard time with the very little children as he is used to bigger kids, but he is there and steps out of his comfort zone to help and play with them.
• Marcella, Thato and Thuli for always stepping in when they can, it means a lot to the team.
Statistics
• Police 14 (GBV= 11)
• Ambulance 16
• Social Workers 15
TOTAL45