Welfare forum sets targets
Attendance encouraged for first 2017 welfare forum meeting
THE first 2017 quarterly meeting of the Zululand Welfare, Social Services and Development Forum (ZWSS&DF) is planned for 17 February at the SANCA Zululand office, Jenner Road Empangeni at 10am.
‘The purpose of the forum is to develop and empower member organisations, which include mainly service providers from the NPO and CBO sector, by providing a lobbying, networking, support and capacity building platform,’ says ZWSS&DF chairman Shireen Sahadev.
‘In doing so we provide a voice for Zululand that is fed through to the provincial level.’
The ZWSS&DF is one of four active forums in the province, along with Southern KZN Region – Durban, Northern Natal Region – Newcastle/Vryheid and Midlands Region – Pietermaritzburg.
Sahadev has pleaded for more support, attendance and participation from members, especially against rising financial and logistical challenges in the welfare sector.
‘The forum continues to be a good platform to network, voice common concerns and above all support each other in our common goal of serving the community. Together we can make a difference.
‘Meetings are held quarterly, alternating between Empangeni and Richards Bay.
‘Member organisations have been structured into groups to arrange and run the meetings in lieu of membership fees.
‘This has been challenging as most organisations are financially strained which seems to be putting an added burden to an already overburdened budget.’
Valuable input
At the local quarterly meetings, guest speakers from a wide cross section of community sectors share problems, challenges and successes.
These include among others social workers, teachers, counsellors, fund raisers, communications specialists and members of the health and legal professions.
Current vice chairman of the ZWSS&DF is Hlengiwe Phakati of Empangeni Child & Family Care while the treasurer is Nomkosi Manqele of Zululand Mental Health.
Shireen Sahadev, Hlengiwe Phakathi, Michelle Jewlal (Lifeline Zululand) and Florence Zondi (NICRO) represent the ZWSS&DF on the KZN Provincial Welfare Social Services and Development Forum.
Matters of common concern such as the Department of Social Development (subsidy increments and back pay, late payment of subsidies, NFD and verification documents) the lottery allocations, training and any other new relevant policies are discussed at provincial level.
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