Duduza – Emmaus Community Centre hosted the Department of Social Development (DSD) for their Social Behaviour Change Outreach Programme on September 26.
The event theme was centred on addressing gender-based violence and substance abuse, while promoting sustainable livelihood.
Programme facilitators from DSD included social workers, their gender-based violence (GBV) unit and substance abuse team.
“Social behaviour change is a strategy that aims to change people’s attitudes, beliefs, and actions to promote positive social norms and behaviours.
“The department requested the centre to partner with them by inviting our beneficiaries, parents, and guardians that we service to form part of the programme,” said centre director Sonia Malinga.
Malinga said the centre further invited stakeholders to offer mobile health services to the public at the event.
“We invited Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (Wits RHI) to offer health services such as HIV testing, counselling, young adult education on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and preventative measures. They also do blood pressure check-ups, and link individuals to relevant clinics when tested positive,” she said.
DSD facilitators provided detailed information to the public based on their services and programmes. DSD social worker Thihangwi Makhale explained the different programmes that the department facilitates for the public and encouraged everyone to join those programmes.
During her address, she mentioned the following four programmes:
• You Only Live Once (Yolo) – A programme aimed at the reduction of HIV infections, teenage and unplanned pregnancies. It focuses on both genders, and is for children between the ages of 15 to 24 years. It consists of 12 sessions.
• Chommie – A programme for both genders as well, focusing on children between the ages of 10 to 14 years. It has 11 sessions.
This programme teaches children about health issues, prevention methods towards teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, cultural differences and how these problems can lead to social issues. The aim is also to boost the children’s self-esteem while empowering them and imparting information.
• Boys Championing Change (BCC) and Men Championing Change (MCC) – The two programmes aim at reducing GBV and family-related matters. MCC caters for men aged 18 and above while BBC is aimed for teenagers from the age of 14 to 17 years.
The two programmes also teach men and boys about health issues, living with empowered women and also encourages them to expresses themselves while trying to break the stigma of ‘indoda ayikhali’ (men don’t cry). It empowers them as well.
DSD social worker at the Springs GBV Unit, Millicent Sebole said women experience GBV because they are the most vulnerable community members.
“We deal with a lot of cases caused by different reasons, issues or concerns. Some are influenced by substance use and in every case; we try and identify root cases to every problem.
“If the problem in the case is substance abuse, we refer the victimiser to the substance social workers who conduct further investigation and seek help for the victimiser,” she said.
She added that they assist the victim through placing them in a place of safety where they receive counselling, participation in skills programmes and business-orientated programmes.
“We work closely with different stakeholders such as the SAPS and the Department of Health to ensure that GBV victims receive all the necessary help they many need.
“I urge all community members to download the Gauteng e-panic button mobile security app for emergency reasons. The app needs data in order to function, I advise community members to always have little data on their phone,” she concluded.
The event included special performances from the Emmaus choir, Kofifi and Vibe Dancers who are beneficiaries of the Emmaus Community Centre.
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