EMPILWENI ANNUAL REPORT 2020
CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT FOR EMPILWENI AGM 2020
Because the AGM has to be by Zoom this year, all reports will be very brief. My 2019 report stressed our funding constraints. I am happy to report that, thanks to some substantial donations and several smaller ones, we are in a much more stable financial position now. This is largely due to the concerted fundraising efforts we made for our 25th Anniversary and the generous response from our donors and supporters. Our first Anniversary Celebration, which was our 2019 AGM, was a very joyful and successful event. Afterwards we sent out our first Empilweni newsletter in November 2019. Our second fundraising event at the Baxter Theatre in April 2020 had to be cancelled due to lockdown but a request to our supporters to donate instead to our Food Parcel campaign received a good response. Over one hundred food parcels were distributed to needy families and we are still assisting those in dire need
We are extremely grateful to the Department for Social Development for continuing to fund us during lockdown. Initially staff worked from home but returned to the office in rotation once restrictions on work were eased. We have managed to meet our service targets both during the 2019/2020 year and during lockdown. Special thanks to our staff who continued to provide a service despite Khayelitsha being one of the Covid -19 hotspots.
Thanks to our Board members for their diligent attendance to all governance matters including their regular participation in Board meetings which have continued during lockdown. In line with our Constitution several Board members need to stand down today after serving for two years, but all have made themselves available for re-election. A new chairperson will be appointed at our February Board meeting.
Finally, I would like to thank all our donors, and our members, partners and clients for their ongoing support. All donors are listed in our Annual Report. Without your crucial support Empilweni would not be able to continue operating.
Brian Robertson, Chairperson
EMPILWENI TREASURER’S REPORT OCTOBER 2020 (AGM)
Empilweni is a registered non-profit organisation and has been in operation for 26 years. It’s objective is to provide community based, child centred mental health support and counselling to children, adolescents, teenage mothers and all their respective families when required in both Khayelitsha and Mfuleni.
FINANCIAL STRATEGY
As an entity with limited funding, the board endeavours to ensure sustainability of the most essential services that Empilweni provide. We usually have regular meetings and during COVID have corresponded regularly with ongoing cash-flows to closely monitor and control our financial situation.
ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Annual Financial Statements for the year ended 31st March 2020 have been audited by BDV Platinum, Empilweni’s independent auditors, who found that they represent a fair view of the financial position of the organisation for the past financial year. Our Donor’s will be sent a copy and copies can be made available to interested parties.
In summary, the audited Statement of Comprehensive income indicates:-
Total income for the period was
R 4,951,319 (2019- 1,548,073)
Total expenditure for the period was R 4,433,058 (2019- 1,724,160)
Result being a surplus / (deficit) of R 530,926 (2019- (172,004)
Of the total expenditure R 2,764,930 (2019 R332,567) related to the new NACOSA (USAID) contract relating to 40 staff. All of this expenditure is reimbursed by NACOSA and we also achieved a benefit of R210,782 (2019- R26,100) for the financial year.
The past financial year and it’s cash-flow demands were also greatly eased by funding received from ICAP which was an single contribution of R400,000 to top up the primary monthly funding we receive from the Department of Social Development (DSD). DSD’s funding covered 49% of our normal expenditure (excluding the NACOSA project) in the Financial Year ended 31st March 2020.
We also received from National Lotteries Commission R100,000 who have been supporters of Empilweni since 2004, thus we are intending to reapply in October 2020 for further funding. Also Dr Jardine and the Nussbaum Foundation have continued to donate substantial amounts, so for all those and others who have funded us, we thank you most sincerely.
CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR 2020/2021
DSD and Lotto continue to be our main funders, but this still leaves us a shortfall, we are very pleased to advise that from October 2020 the monthly general cost contribution from NACOSA will increase from R25,500 to R54,380 following an increase in NACOSA staff from 40 to 79
We will continuing other funding applications both within South Africa and beyond to cover any funding shortfalls.
Finally, in lieu of a good working relationship with our Auditors BDV Platinum, I recommend a reappointment for the 2020/21 year ahead.
David H Draude FAIA, FCMI
TREASURER
DIRECTOR’S REPORT FOR AGM 2020
NACOSA-NACCW Partnership
NACOSA, National Association for Child Care Workers and Empilweni formed a partnership to implement the Isibindi Impilo Programme in Khayelitsha.
NACOSA evaluated Empilweni in September 2019 which was the end of the first year period. They were very happy with our performance during the period and wanted to continue with us from 1 October with an increase of Child and Youth Care Workers from 22 to 40. USAID is the main funder and I attended the USAID meeting with NACOSA in Pretoria. NACOSA renewed our contract in 2020 and we will employ 69 Child and Youth Care Workers from 1 October 2020.
Western Cape Commissioner of Children Celebration
Empilweni and 35 other organisations participated in the lobbying for the decision by Western Cape Parliament to start the appointment process for the Western Cape Commissioner of Children. Christina Nomdo was subsequently appointed as the Western Cape Commissioner of Children.
Western Cape Parliament Standing Committee on Social Development
We were invited by the Western Cape Parliament to participate in discussions regarding the child murders in the Western Cape. Some of the organisations made submissions and we were invited for follow up meetings.
Waves for Change
I had a meeting with Waves for Change who focus on surfing linked to a mental health life skills training approach. We agreed that they would refer their participants to us if needed for counselling and we could refer our clients to them for their programme if the child is in one of their focus schools.
National Youth Development Agency
I had a meeting with Mr. Thulani Chauke of the National Youth Development Agency for possible support for Empilweni. We agreed that Empilweni could become a partner organization to the NYDA and could then be considered for support and capacity building training. NYDA focus on entrepreneurship and skills training.
Fundraising
We managed to raise enough funds for the period as well as some funds for the following financial year. The state of the economy at 2% growth and poor growth in the stock market has made fundraising a bit difficult. I consulted Inyathelo and they indicated that the funding environment is difficult even for themselves and that we are on the right track with redesigning project implementation, reapplications, subcontracting and exploring own income generation I had a meeting with Chantel Cooper Fundraising Manager of the Red Cross Children’s Trust who shared some experiences. Prof Robertson and I started engaging with BackaBuddy and an appeal on Cape Talk Radio was also made
The staff of Empilweni managed to achieve our quarterly Lotteries and Social Development targets. We have a very good working relationship with NACOSA and other partners. We had a partners/funders expectation workshop on the 1 March 2019 and a Planning meeting on the 3 April 2019 which helped us to navigate through the rest of the year.
William Williams
Director
SERVICE MANAGER’S REPORT FOR AGM 2020
Operations: – Empilweni is now 26 years in operation of its mental health service to children and families. It provides prevention of mental health issues. It receives beneficiaries from walk ins, word of mouth, and referrals from other CBO, NGO and government departments. We receive approximately 450 appropriate referrals a year and almost 65 inappropriate referrals that we refer to other organizations. Each community mental health worker manages a quarterly case load of 20-25 cases. Up to 106 individuals attended groups last year on parenting or for teen mothers. Most of our clients engage with us for three months and benefit from 4-6 counselling sessions besides family therapy and home visits. Our counsellors are highly skilled Social Workers and Social Auxiliary Workers that receive onsite training in mental health and mental health practice during their induction period of 3-6 months.They also benefit from day to day support from management and their line supervisor that they can contact at any time. Weekly case conferences are facilitated by our psychologist. Our multidisciplinary team also gives guidance and support on fundraising. The service manager plays a big role in the smooth running of the service.
Clinically: – We have a set programme when consulting with our clients. First day it’s screening/crisis counselling so as to identify underlying issues and emergencies, and provide pre and post counselling and psycho-education.
The assessment follows and takes 2hours and includes making a diagnosis and then assisting the family to work on the underlying issues .Family therapy for parents or the whole family and group therapy is provided. At termination we request feedback from our client as well as testimonials and suggestions.
Networking: The Service Manager represents Empilweni as the vice chair of the Site B Health Committee, vice chair on the Khayelitsha Development Forum, and also sits on Thuthuzela’s Implementation Forum
Economically: The director and the whole team are working tirelessly to fundraise because of the uncertainty of future funds due to the impact of COVID 19
Environment: Crime challenges us a lot when we do home visits and outreach. Corona Virus this year was our worst nightmare and affected all aspects if our service. Job insecurity is faced by our whole country.
Lulama Mfuniselwa
Service Manager
THANKS TO OUR DONORS
Department of Social Development
National Lotteries Commission
NACOSA
Rolf Stephan Nussbaum Foundation
Given gain
Ned Group Trust
ICAP South Africa
Ryan Foundation
Jet Lee Will Trust
AW Blekton Charitable Trust
Sh’Zen
Cape Talk
Dr. Ivor and Cora Jardine
Andy Dawes
Astrid Berg
Gava Kassiem
Cathy Ward, Amelia van der Merwe
Wendy Vogel
Mark & Sylvia Midgley
Chris Zissis
Liz Robertson
Brian Robertson
Big thanks to all our partner schools under the Department of Education in the Western Cape, as well as private schools, and our other partners, namely Clinical Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Nurses in our government hospitals , Thuthuzela clinic, Social development Khayelitsha, FAMSA, Rape crisis , Fikelela , Nonceba Family Counselling centre, Home from Home , Simameleni , Homestead, Mosaic, Vukani Local paper, Cape Mental Health Society and Safico IT.