Our stories
Empilweni as opportunity for growth
Kwezi’s Testimonial
My name is Kwezi. I came to Empilweni in 1995 because I was always fighting with my brother and I was just not listening to my parents. Then a friend of mine introduced me to Empilweni. I attended group sessions where we shared our different behaviour problems, and this helped me. Empilweni also took me to a behaviour training course where I learned a lot about different behavioural issues. The training was so helpful to me. During this time Empilweni founded a football team which I joined between 2000- and 2005. I was interested to become a volunteer and so I became a Coach of the Empilweni football team. We played on different fields and we won a Kit and Trophy at the City Of Cape Town.
Where I am today is because of Empilweni. I don’t have words enough to thank Empilweni. In 2006 I got a job at Sililo Lutho Technology as service consultant, then after 2 years I became a manager, and in 2014 I became a regional manager. Currently I’m running my own franchise (self-employed). In 2017 I got an opportunity to train Empilweni staff on a 6 month computer literacy course.
I am happy any time to assist Empilweni with anything related to my work and am also willing to be a motivational speaker as a ‘product’ of Empilweni to encourage other young people.
A Mother’s Gratitude
I started attending Empilweni some months ago regarding my son’s behaviour at school that was not satisfactory.
My son was admitted by one of your social workers for an assessment and review.
We had wonderful sessions with her, she listened and understood both our current feelings and regarding our past experiences.
She was very welcoming and sincere.
We left every session feeling a lot better than we had arrived.
This Empilweni is the greatest institute as it helped my son come from worst to better emotional feelings.
Here I did not just get help for my son, he was the reason for me to attend, thus it helped my emotions as well.
I would be more than willing to refer or recommend anyone to visit this institute who has similar emotional and behavioural encounters as my son and myself.
With Great Gratitude
The mother of Siphokazi, 8 yrs
I came to Empilweni because I was very frustrated and irritated about Siphokazi’s anger and bedwetting. Empilweni helped me to understand these problems, and I now know how to handle them. Siphokazi used to wet his bed almost every night, but this has now changed
My Testimony
I came to Empilweni because I wanted help after my father left me, my mother and my young sister. He told us he will be back in a few weeks but he did not come back. My sister went to stay with at my Aunt’s place and I stayed with my mother. When I started having...
Testimonial from School Principal November 2018
Dear Lulama We , as the school, would like to express our profound appreciation for your selfless help, advice and professional intervention in all the cases we brought to you at Empilweni. Words cannot convey enough our gratitude in having your organisation as...
Testimony of Priscilla Baleni, first Empilweni counsellor
Empilweni was introduced to Khayelitsha in 1994. It started with research in the community. I was there from the start and later recruited Zanyiwe, Pretty and Noncedo. We were all trained as mental health workers, and to be knowledgeable about mental health issues....
A Simple Thank You
I came to Empilweni to get some help in my life. My life had changed and was not the same as before! I came to the social workers and discussed the changes to my life I had anger, a lot, but now I am better than ever. I came here Tuesday’s to get help and found the...
Testimonial of Previous Service Manager
I, Noncedo Nomahe, joined the staff of Empilweni as a mental health counsellor in 1996 when it was situated in Site C at the Nolungile Clinic. Empilweni was operating under great difficulties and challenges at that time: the staff were squashed in a small bungalow,...
A Family Matter Resolved
I came to Empilweni regarding my niece. She was neglected by her father and very angry and did not do anything right at school or at home. The problem was that her father was cheating as well as drinking a lot of alcohol. So my niece was fighting all the...