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The other day I was telling one of my sons about
my day at work. I had met someone that day – a
sales representative for a banner-making company
– to discuss some banners I wanted to have made.
An ordinary day at the
office for me.
The banner company representative and I chatted
for a little while about the work that we do,
and what my needs were, and he generously offered
to make banners for us at cost. He said he liked
to be able to do what he can to assist organisations
like ours do the work that we do. I hadn’t asked
him for cheaper rates, I hadn’t asked him for
any kind of discount, and I hadn’t suggested to
him that we couldn’t afford to pay their regular
costs. I was so grateful, and I felt so blessed,
to encounter – yet again – this kind of generosity
and abundance mentality that I so often encounter
in my line of work. I felt proud to share this
random act of kindness with my son.
And for the purposes of this editorial, and somehow
it seems appropriate for the end of year, I thought
I would focus on just that: gratitude. I am grateful
for the work that I do. I have a wonderful job,
sharing with many people every day the kind of
work that our organisation does. We train. And
we counsel. And we make a difference in the lives
of many individuals, every day. And for this,
I am grateful too, to our wonderful volunteer
counsellors, trainers and training course facilitators,
supervisors, referral officers, not to mention
our shining staff members in the training and
counselling departments who make everything happen.
Through this newsletter you will read of other
things for which I – and LifeLine/Childline Western
Cape – are grateful. For Ryan and his grade six
life orientation class at St Agnes Primary in
Woodstock, who fundraised in the most amazing
way for Childline Western Cape. For Bokomo who,
through their cause-related marketing project
with Childline South Africa, donated a million
rand to the national Childline organisation. For
all of our funders who believe in and support
the work that we do. For all the people I meet
who say, “If there’s anything I can do to assist,
please give me a call.” Because they really mean
it.
For Ryan (“Brown”) and the band tAit, who have
chosen to link with Childline Western Cape for
the launch of the remix of “She”, a song about
a young girl who is taken advantage of. They have
chosen to donate ten percent of their royalties
to us, and want to promote our toll free number
for young people who may need to talk about their
situations, which may be similar.
I am also grateful for my colleagues: at Childline,
who work, every day, to make a positive difference
in the lives of children who have been sexually
abused or raped. Who, lovingly and empathically,
walk alongside these young survivors, listening
to their stories as they are able to share and
disclose their pain, and offer them a safe space
to vent their feelings and begin a process of
healing and growth.
To our HIV and AIDS lay counselling and VCT teams
who work, every day, with people who want to know
their HIV status, or who know their status and
need a safe space to talk and share their rollercoaster
of emotions with one another, or work with individuals
who want to maintain their negative HIV status.
To our youth development department who run camps,
workshops and training courses to empower youth
at risk, from marginalised schools and communities,
to make good life choices.
To our office and administrative staff whose
important work ensures that everything runs smoothly,
and our centres have all that they need to do
the work they do.
I am grateful to work for an organisation that
allows me – and countless others who come into
contact with our organisation every day – to find
my voice. And to interact with many special people,
every day.
Be it through telephone counselling, therapeutic
work, trauma counselling, youth development programmes,
pre- or post-test counselling, support groups,
training courses or even just by working here:
we all have the opportunity to be who we are,
to speak our truth, and to contribute to the growth
and promotion of emotional health in our province.
So, whatever is on your mind during this quarter
of the year, feel free to call us. And until Autumn
2008 beckons, 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 Childline on 08000 55 555.
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LifeLine/Childline
Western Cape was established in Cape Town in 1968
and has, since then, been providing ongoing telephone
counselling, offering immediacy and an intimate
means of communication to those needing to talk.
The need for an organisation committed to the prevention
of child abuse became increasingly apparent and
in 1995 Childline became a division of LifeLine
Western Cape. On average, the crisis lines receive
around 4,500 calls per month.
With offices in Cape Town, Wynberg, Khayelitsha,
Guguletu, Bishop Lavis, Mitchell’s Plain, Athlone
and now in Eerste River, LifeLine/Childline Western
Cape has grown considerably and now employs 113
members of staff. The majority of the organisation's
staff members work in the area of HIV/AIDS lay counselling
in the clinics and day hospitals around the central
Cape Town area and Khayelitsha.
Cape Town office:
021 461 1113
Bishop Lavis office:
021 934 3027
Guguletu office: 021
637 2649
Khayelitsha office:
021 361 9197
Mitchell’s Plain office:
021 372 5591
Wynberg (Childline) office:
021 762 8198
Athlone (youth development)
office: 021 638 0913
Eerste River Centre: 021
904 0792
If you need to talk, for whatever reason, we’re
here. Call 021 461 1111 or 0861 322 322 (LifeLine)
or 021 461 1114 or 08000 55 555 (Childline) at
any time of day or night, for anonymous, confidential
counselling.
LifeLine/Childline Western Cape
56 Roeland Street, Cape Town 8001
Tel: +27 21 461 1113
Fax: +27 21 461 6400
Email: info@lifelinewc.org.za
Website: www.lifelinewc.org.za
002-837 NPO
Section 18A/PBO Status : 18/11/13/1085 |
