|
As I sit here at my computer, we’ve been without email or internet connection at our Cape Town centre for over a week. I can’t describe how this has affected our working lives. I feel disconnected, I feel out of touch, I feel guilty that people will have emailed me and will be waiting for a response, I feel irritated and quite helpless! But one thought that strikes me quite powerfully is: what did we do before email? How did we communicate, and what were our working lives like? Telephone communication has nudged its way back into first place for me this week, and at the office my colleagues and I are actually walking to each other’s offices to speak to each other, to request meetings or to ask for information; normally, a quick email would have done the job in two ticks! Returning to the more relational, rather than the quicker and more convenient, option is actually quite nice!
And so this mode of operating ties in perfectly well with the theme of this edition of Find Your Voice: continuity through change. I have borrowed this theme from the theme for our organisation's national conference at the end of this year. It seemed fitting for the opening quarter of a new year, and a year that is so significant in the life of our organisation. LifeLine Southern Africa – and specifically LifeLine Western Cape – celebrates its 40th anniversary in November 2008, and as part of those celebrations, we will be hosting the national directors’ conference here in Cape Town.
So for the rest of the year, we are going to be looking backwards and looking forwards: backwards to the history and experience that has brought us to where we are today, and forwards, as we build on that same history and experience to create a transformed, increasingly relevant and accessible organisation to take into the future. Details of this exciting transformation will follow throughout the year. Continuity through change.
In this issue, you’ll read of the new and unique project in which we have become involved, together with the Desmond Tutu TB Centre and four other non-government organisations. This puts us in a pioneering role, in terms of studying the impact of TB on HIV, as well as in a position to offer voluntary counselling and testing after-hours to those sections of the population who might otherwise not be able to access such services.
You will also read of staff changes, as well as news of what is happening with child helplines internationally, and you will read of the birthplace of LifeLine: LifeLine in Australia celebrated their 45th anniversary in mid-March. Again, you will read of the history of the organisation, as well as ways in which the organisation there is striving to remain relevant while continuing to offer a caring service.
I chat to a newly-dedicated counsellor who is by no means new to the organisation. Another perfect example of continuity through change.
There is also some useful information relating to the way some of our services currently operate.
If you have any ideas for future articles, or would like to give me some feedback about Find Your Voice, please feel free to do so.
I trust that you will enjoy reading this edition of Find Your Voice, and that the second quarter of your year is a good and fulfilling one. And, remember, that whatever is on your mind during this quarter of the year, feel free to call us. And until Winter 2008, go well, keep safe and keep talking. We’re listening.
Warm regards
Ruth Martin
ruth@lifelinewc.org.za
Remember that whatever is on your mind and needing to be spoken about, call LifeLine. We’re hear to listen, any time of night or day. Call LifeLine on 021 461 1111 or 0861 322 322 or Childline on 08000 55 555 or 021 461 1114 |
