Erongo Social Services hosts Christmas Function for the elderly

Eileen van der Schyff

Erongo social services hosted their annual Christmas function for the elderly on Thursday 29 November.
Close to 100 elderly people enjoyed a warm plate of food and a Christmas hamper which this year was sponsored by Mr Francois Jooste of Walvis Bay Spar. “We want to thank Mr Jooste and everyone else in the community who supported our organisation through the year, “said Mrs Janie Brits from Erongo Social Services. Erongo Social Services supplies a weekly basic food hamper to 90 plus elderly people, which are put together from donations from the community who supported our organisation through the year, “said Mrs Janie Brits from Erongo Social Services. Erongo Social Services supplies a weekly basic food hamper to 90 plus elderly people, which are put together from donations from the community. She went on to say that the joy it brings the under privileged is unbelievable and on behalf of Erongo Social services they extend their gratitude and blessing to all who were involved with this good cause throughout the year.

Erongo Social Services is a non-profit registered welfare organisation. It is a well –established and respected family care organisation which has been providing social and welfare services to communities in need since 1957. The two ESS offices, one in Walvis Bay and one in Swakopmund proves accessible, community-based developmental and counsel-ling services to people and communities in need. This organisation run six programs and projects.
The family preservation program is aimed at equipping adults and children with appropriate life skills. In order to provide comprehensive services the program incorporates Play Therapy for Children, Relationship/ Marriage Guidance and Enrichment, Marriage and Divorce Counselling, Parental Guidance, Adoption Counselling and Domestic Violence Counselling.
The child protection program is to protect children, by keeping them safe within placement that will enable them to reach their full potential. Safety placements of children, children’s court investigations, foster care services, family re-unification services and adoption services also form part of this program.
The weekly feeding project provides an one stop service where older persons have access to counselling and therapeutic services and social assistance with information and referrals.
The ESS also provides food parcels to individuals and families in Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, who are struggling to put food on the table. These people generally receive little or no income, usually as a result of unemployment, disabilities or disease. Whilst on The food parcel program, they are ad-vised to access government grants if they are eligible.
The school feeding program in Kuisebmond, Walvis Bay provides ± 100 primary school children with a meal on a daily basis. This is sometimes the only meal these children receive. The ESS is in partnership with Promise Land, a charity organisation, for obtaining and distribution of products
The Education project is for children whose parents/guardians cannot afford to pay their school fees or buy their school uniforms or stationery. Because of this, these children are unable to attend school.” We are currently catering for Primary and Secondary Schooling and this project pays the children’s school fees and buys their uniforms and stationery.”
For fundraising purposes as well, the ESS launches each year a big breakfast function for 300 plus women, with entertainment like a well-known and experienced speaker, music, auctions, gifts, etc. By doing that, they help women to amplify opportunities by making funding accessible by ESS; Help to support women through interaction with ESS to empower women; Help women to understand their rights – and how to fight for it.
BECOME A FRIEND OF ERONGO SOCIAL SERVICES
· Remember the ESS in your prayers;
· Sponsor a needy family;
· Sponsor a scholar;
· Support psychological treatment of children;
· Financial contribution toward our services;
· Share your skills;
· Support our feeding of families in need;
· Adopt an elderly person;
· Make yourself available for foster care or safety parent for a child.
CONTACT DETAILS ESS WALVIS BAY, SWAKOPMUND
SOCIAL WORKER WALVIS BAY: MRS JANIE BRITS: 064-205857
104 FIFTH STREET WALVIS BAY : 081 122 7706/ e-mail: jbritskmr@gmail.com
SOCIAL WORKER SWAKOPMUND: MRS THERESA OLIVIER: 064-461962
DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH : 081 366 8140
LÜDERITZ STREET, SWAKOPMUND/ e-mail: kmrswk@mweb.com.na
TREASURER / SECRETARY: MRS ERIKA VAN ROOYEN: 064-205857
WALVIS BAY/email: kmrwvb@afol.com.na