BADISA expands its social services

- Linda Jaquet -

In the weeks ahead BADISA Prince Albert is to increase its services to the communities in the Prince Albert Municipal area. It is opening its fifth soup kitchen for needy youngsters in Prince Albert which will provide daily lunches to over 100 learners at Hoërskool Zwartberg.

“A generous grant from the Western Cape Department of Social Development and the continuing support of townsfolk and organisations like the Thursday Group has made this possible,” Dave Rennie, who serves on BADISA’s management committee, told the Friend.

He pointed out that BADISA already operates four soup kitchens in Prince Albert and Leeu-Gamka twice a week throughout the summer and winter months and one each in Klaarstroom and Prince Albert Road. “In time, BADISA intends to increase the number of days on which the soup kitchens run. The beneficiaries will be expanded to include the elderly and those in dire need,” he said.

Children who benefit from the soup kitchens will in future be registered in a sensitive manner so that BADISA can build up its database and so increase its social services to the community.

In keeping with the Department of Social Development’s plans to implement skills development and job creation plans more vigorously in our province, BADISA, in conjunction with other NGOs, plans to use its data on the parents of the children, who attend the soup kitchens, to facilitate this process.

Me BADISA Gekroon

- Ilze Koorts -

BADISA Prince Albert het vanjaar vir die eerste maal ‘n Me BADISA Kompetisie aangebied. Nastassja Claassen, aflos-gemeenskaps-ontwikkelingswerker, het die kompetisie in Prince Albert, Klaarstroom en Leeu-Gamka (die bedieningsareas van BADISA) van stapel gestuur. Uitdunne is op Klaarstroom, Leeu-Gamka en Prince Albert gehou, waartydens vyf finaliste uit elke dorp gekies is. Onafhanklike beoordelaars is in al drie dorpe gebruik. Die kriteria waarvolgens elke deelnemer beoordeel is, was: ritme, houding, toepaslike drag en spontaniteit.

Op Saterdagaand 13 Desember 2008 is die finale rondte van me BADISA in die VGK Saal, Prince Albert aangebied. Al vyf finaliste van elkeen van die drie genoemde dorpe het na Prince Albert gereis om te kom meeding om die kroon. Die meisies was almal pragtig. Daar is hard geoefen en hul het in die afdelings Slenterdrag en Formeel deelgeneem. Baie moeite is ook deur hul afrigters gedoen. ‘n Goeie opkoms is beleef en die gehoor het ywerig aan die kompetisie deelgeneem

Na ‘n moeilike keuse is Anneline Jonkers (Prince Albert) as me BADISA 2008 gekies. Haar prys is meer as R 500 werd. Haar prinsesse was Pokkies (1e prinses) en Samarin (2e prinses). Hul pryse is ongeveer R 100 – R 200 werd.

Baie geluk aan die wenners, maar ook aan elke pragtige meisie wat deelgeneem het. Julle het ALMAL pragtig gelyk!

BADISA vra: Raak betrokke by gemeenskapsontwikkeling

Op die vooraand van die sestien dae van aktivisme teen geweld teen vroue en kinders, is dit so dat ons dorp stukkend is as gevolg van presies dít waarvoor ons nou in die openbaar opstaan. Geweld teen vroue en kinders is in Prince Albert en omgewing ‘n ernstige probleem wat dringend aangespreek moet word.

Ons weet tog almal hoe lyk geweld teen vroue en kinders - maar tog draai ons so maklik daarvan weg en laat toe dat mense onnodig.

Praktiese voorbeelde hier in ons midde was baie die afgelope jaar, maar die afgelope 2 maande is twee kinders van onderskeidelik 4 maande en 4 jaar oud onnodig dood. Twee kinders is die afgelope 2 weke deur hulle MOEDERS aangerand, onderskeidelik gewurg en ‘n oop kopwond met ‘n besemstok toegedien. Vroeër vanjaar is ‘n kleintjie met ‘n panga raakgekap deur haar pa. Hoekom laat ons dit toe? Het ons opgehou omgee vir ons kindertjies, wat juis so weerloos en afhanklik van ons is? Hulle het JUIS beskerming nodig!

Ons moet optree teen fisiese én psigiese geweld.Die eerste is die sigbare geweld, waar vroue en kinders fisiese tekens soos blou kolle of gebreekte/gekraakte bene (enige plek in die liggaam).Dit is gewoonlik ook die geweld waarvan ons eerste bewus raak.Psigiese geweld is nie sigbaar nie en rig baie diep skade aan.Die slagoffer van psigiese geweld kan self knak daaronder en aan hul seer uiting gee deur self fisies gewelddadig te raak.Mense wat seer van binne is, loop met 'n woede in hul binneste rond wat potensieel gevaarlik kan raak vir die mense rondom hulle.Psigiese geweld is die emosionele afbreek van 'n vrou of kind wat voortdurend moet hoor dat hulle niks reg doen nie, of dat hul niks werd is nie en nêrens in die lewe gaan kom nie. Dit is ‘n wesenlike miskenning van hul unieke mens-wees en menswaardigheid.

Hoe spreek ons dit aan? Deur persoonlik betrokke te raak! Moenie jou rug keer op jou buurvrou of vriendin of die kindjie wat jy opsigtelik sien swaarkry nie. Raak betrokke en meld dit aan by BADISA of, in die geval van ernstige beserings, by die hospitaal of SAPD.

Dis tyd dat die gemeenskap begin om verantwoordelikheid te aanvaar vir die vroue en kinders wat gebuk gaan onder geweld van enige vorm!

Vra jouself af of jy ‘n verskil gaan maak.

Ek sluit af met die volgende aanhaling:

“We had our first argument last night, and he said a lot of cruel things that really hurt me. I know he is sorry and didn’t mean the things he said, because he sent me flowers today. I got flowers today. It wasn’t our anniversary or any other special day.

Last night he threw me into a wall and started to choke me. It seemed like a nightmare, I couldn’t believe it was real. I woke up this morning sore and bruised all over. I know he must be sorry because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today and it wasn’t Mother’s Day or any other special day. Last night, he beat me up again, it was much worse than all the other times. If I leave him, what will I do? How will I take care of my kids? What about money? I’m afraid of him and scared to leave. But I know he must be sorry because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today. Today was a very special day. It was the day of my funeral. Last night, he finally killed me. He beat me to death. If only I had gathered enough courage to leave him, I would not have gotten flowers today …”

Ilze Koorts
Maatskaplike Werker

BADISA opens two more soup kitchens

- Linda Jaquet -

On Friday, 15 August, BADISA launched two more soup kitchens in Prince Albert, bringing the total in the town to four.

The two original soup kitchens have been providing a wholesome meal to 600 children in Rondomskrik and at the Bejaardesorg Sentrum every Tuesday and Friday for the last few years.

The two new centres will serve needy children in “Die Gatjie” and in the neighbourhood commonly referred to as “Die Blink Hokke”.

About two hundred youngsters and their families attended the launch at the Bejaardesorgsentrum. They were welcomed by BADISA Chairperson, Dawid Rossouw, who reminded them of how of much hard work behind the scenes goes into the soup kitchens and of the important role played by the twenty volunteers who take turns to run the kitchens.

A special round of applause was reserved for the “Three Musketeers”, Sarah Morris, Christine Cupido and Marie Stroebel, who volunteer at the kitchens every week.

BADISA community worker, Rozanne Spogter, confirmed to the Friend that the decision to open further soup kitchens reflected growing hardship in Prince Albert, which she associated with the rise in food prices across the country.

Deputy Mayor Magdalena Benjamin, in a speech read on her behalf, pointed to the fact that even before the current economic difficulties, the Central Karoo had been declared one of the most impoverished areas in the country. She called on everyone to become doers and not just talkers and to make the choice about how they wanted to contribute to helping the most needy in the community. In closing, BADISA’s Ilze Koorts thanked the Department of Social Services which funds the soup kitchens and donors such as the Thursday group for their ongoing and much-needed support.

Soup kitchens were also opened in Prince Albert Road and Klaarstroom in August. Leeu-Gamka’s soup kitchen will be launched on 4 September.

Dine in Style for a Good Cause

- Linda Jaquet -

On Friday evening, 23 November, one of South Africa’s top restaurants, Bokkie Botha’s Olive Branch on Markstraat, is hosting a fundraising dinner and wine auction for the local non-governmental organisation, BADISA.

BADISA, the Tswana word for “shepherd” or “care taker”, is a combination of three words Barmhartigheid (Compassion), Diens (Service) and Saam (Together). It is a joint ministry of the Dutch Reformed Church (NG Kerk) and the United Reformed Church (VG Kerk) focusing on the social needs of the people and communities of Prince Albert, Prince Albert Road, Leeu-Gamka and Klaarstroom.

Funds raised will assist BADISA to continue its invaluable social development services and support for the needy and most vulnerable in our communities.

Bokkie is preparing a mouth-watering, three-course dinner. Diners will be able to buy wines from an interesting selection to drink with their meal.

After dinner, Mark Steyn, a feisty auctioneer, will auction a range of wines, some of them special indeed.

Only 30 tickets are available at R150.00 each from BADISA’s office opposite Spar. First come, first served and that’s it!

For further information, please call

Tossie du Toit on
(023) 541-1388/1399.

BADISA Visits Seekoegat Primary School

- Linda Jaquet -

It was one of the chilliest, windiest Mondays this winter, but BADISA social workers Cecilia Cedras and Rozane Spogter were determined to go ahead with their planned visit to the rural Seekoegat Primary School, to do a number of things. Firstly, they wanted to tell the thirty or so learners at the School about what information, help and support they, as social workers, could offer them, about the dangers of alcohol, drugs, and HIV/AIDS.

To strengthen their message, BADISA enlisted the talents of two highly skilful communicators. Community activist, Jeff Armoed, who spoke first, was frank in his interaction with the youngsters on HIV/AIDS and Inspector Farrell Januarie of the Prince Albert Police gave a lively and often graphic talk on the risks posed to young people by alcohol and drug abuse.

Then Cecilia and Rozane needed to hand over to the learners aged between seven and thirteen, several boxes of warm clothes donated by a private English school, thanks to the good work of our Thursday Group.

The visit to Seekoegat Primary was all the more urgent following news of the rape of a ten year old pupil at her home some weekends beforehand. Thanks to the concern and efforts of the School’s dedicated headmaster, Mr Fortuin, its two educators and three administrative workers, BADISA had been quickly contacted and had promptly assisted and supported the young girl and her family.

Badisa, die Harleys en die komberse

- Dawid Rossouw -

In Prince Albert is baie arm mense wat afhanklik is van pensioene en staatstoelaes. Werk is in ‘n groot mate seisoenaal en in Junie/Julie is werkloosheid optimaal. Mense in afwagting van ongeskiktheidstoelaes word die swaarste getref, want as hulle werk, verbeur hulle die toelaes waarvoor hulle aansoek gedoen het.

Kinders is honger, want die Departement van Gesondheid bied net tot graad vier voedselprogramme aan en staatstoelaes is slegs beskikbaar vir kinders onder veertien indien hul ouers minder as R1,200 per maand verdien.

Maar gelukkig is daar Badisa.
Ba = Barmhartigheid;
Di = Diens;
Sa = Saam.

Lank nadat besluit is op die naam Badisa, is met groot opgewondenheid ontdek dat die woord in Sotho beteken “iemand wat sy skape oppas of versorg”. Presies nét wat Badisa doen!
Badisa bou saam aan ‘n gelukkige gemeenskap wat omgee vir mekaar en in Prince Albert lewer hulle ‘n geïntegreerde diens om alle gemeenskappe in nood te help bou aan ‘n selfstandige leefwyse. Hulle doen dit vanuit hul Christelike roeping in samewerking met vrywilligers en ander rolspelers.

So het Tossie du Toit, maatskaplike werker by Badisa, drie-uur op ‘n Saterdagmiddag die dames van die Harley Davidson-Klub in Kaapstad voor die hotel in ons hoofstraat ontmoet, om die 70 splinternuwe kleurryke komberse te ontvang, wat die ryers van die spogfietse kom aflewer het, vir die mense wat die winterkoue nou so erg aan die lyf voel.

Vyf kerke en die altyd gewillige Thursday Group is betrokke by die Sopkombuis wat twee keer per week sowat 250 kinders voed. Klere, bymekaargemaak deur kinders van die Blundel Private Skool, is onlangs met groot koste en moeite deur ‘n welwillende plaaslike dame uit Engeland ingevoer.

Woolworths, die NG Kerk en talle individue is entoesiasties betrokke om ‘n klerebank in stand te hou.

By vakansieprogramme, en tydens groepwerk by jeugkampe, word tot 130 jeugdiges op ‘n slag ingelig oor die gevare van VIGS, alkoholmisbruik, dwelms en die gevolge van oka-pyp rook (slagoffers van so jonk as tien jaar vertel hul mae “brand” en hul oë voel “flou”).

By pragtige natuurplekke soos Baviaanskloof word die jeug van ons dorp geïnspireer om hul energie in positiewe rigtings te kanaliseer. Tien van ons kinders gaan eersdaags na Victoriabaai vir onderrig in lewensvaardighede. Vier vrywilligers het reeds in Kaapstad opleiding ontvang om mishandelde en misbruikte kinders tydelik te huisves tot permanente reëlings vir hul welsyn getref is.

Badisa, wat na ‘n bietjie meer as ‘n jaar op Prince Albert eintlik nog in sy kinderskoene is, verrig met ‘n beheerraad van sestien lede en ‘n personeel van vier, werk van ewigheidswaarde. Met die gevestigde en groeiende morele en finansiële steun van ons totale gemeenskap - en met meevallers soos dié van ons Harley Davidson-vriende - kan daar ‘n ingrypende sosiale verskil gemaak word.

Tot voordeel van almal.

Vir meer inligting oor BADISA se werksaamhede, en hoe om betrokke te raak kan Tossie du Toit gekontak word by (023) 5411 388

Editorial

In preparing our lead article this month, we were bowled over when we learned what the remarkably committed personnel of BADISA are doing for the communities of Prince Albert and our surrounding towns and rural areas. At the same time, it was heartbreaking to hear of the social ills that so many of us just did not know existed in our beloved towns. As one committed BADISA supporter commented: “I just didn’t know that this kind of thing was happening in Prince Albert.”

Luckily, there are some happy endings and uplifting moments worth celebrating, including the support BADISA has from local residents, and from the sources mentioned in our front page article.

When we asked them why they have not tried to raise funds more aggressively, we were told: “We don’t like to beg. Of course we find freely given donations very useful indeed – we couldn’t function without them - but we believe that it is as important to harness the contributions that people make in kind and with their skills, so that we can spend the hard-earned money effectively.”

If there is anything you can do or if you would like to know more about BADISA, give their office a call on (023) 5411 388.