Fundraising
“Each of us as citizens has a role to play in creating a better world for our children”
(Nelson Mandela, 9 May 2002)
Besides direct donations, there are a number of ways in which you can support Empilweni:
- Help us in the office or join our fundraising team.
- Offer your professional services to support our staff team.
- Volunteer to assist with our client activities.
- Volunteer to sponsor or organise a fundraising event
- Donate goods or prizes for projects and staff or client events
- Help to promote the work of Empilweni and increase its visibility in our society
- Make a bequest in your Will and leave a legacy to Empilweni
- Join in the excitement of our 25th Anniversary and sponsor or organise an event, or contribute or participate in some other way
Please contribute to our 25th Anniversary Fundraising Campaign:
“Changing Lives and Restoring Hope to Abused and Neglected Children in Under-Served Communities”
For the last 25 years Empilweni has been offering full time psychological support and counselling to children in Khayelitsha affected by neglect, abuse and other adverse experiences. Empilweni is the only local community-based organisation qualified and equipped to provide psychological counselling for children in isi-Xhosa. Twice a week counsellors also travel to neighbouring Mfuleni to provide a service in this new and growing township, but this falls far short of the actual needs
Mfuleni has high levels of poverty and unemployment, community violence, gender-based violence, domestic violence and drug and alcohol abuse. Infrastructure and support services are poorly developed or absent, and there is a serious lack of educational and leisure facilities. Children experience neglect and abuse, from emotional abuse through to physical and sexual abuse. This contributes to many psychological problems among the children and youth, including drug and alcohol abuse, depression and suicide, and learning problems which frequently result in school drop out.
Currently Empilweni has only sufficient resources to provide services in Mfuleni twice a week, so we are appealing for funds to provide a full time service.
Without intervention today’s abused and neglected children will become tomorrow’s abusers and gangsters, and perpetuate the cycle of violence and parental neglect