The Open Disclosure Foundation (ODF), established in 2002, assists victims of sexual abuse through one-on-one counselling. The foundation is headed by Yfm presenter and kwaito singer Andile Carelse, herself a victim of abuse as a child.
The founders believe that talking is therapy and therapy is talking, because it starts the process of creating support, solidarity, understanding, and with that comes healing.
In addition to the work it is already doing, ODF now aims to take counselling and support into the virtual world, making it more accessible to a broader group of people. This initiative will create a platform for communication, provide information and advice and enable survivors of abuse to share their experiences in a supportive online community.
Scrap Therapy will be introduced through Open Disclosure. This innovative trauma therapy crosses culture, language and other barriers which often limit communication efforts. Scrap Therapy allows victims to work with tangible images and materials that often deliver greater perspective and insight on reflection. Heidi Waddell believes the ODF and Scrap Therapy will be able to nurture women and children.
The United Church School provides Grade 1-12 schooling for 750 orphaned, abused, HIV, abandoned and underprivileged children in the heart of Yeoville, in three private dwellings and a church hall. Its success is exceptional, delivering a 100% matric pass rate for the past six years and winning high accolades at numerous eisteddfods. Established 17 years ago by Christia Rossouw and Helenne Ulster as a bridging school, the United Church School has outgrown its premises.
Says Ulster: "Government and corporate funding cover only a small percentage of our operational costs and cannot be relied upon. What do we need? Our ultimate dream is a real school with adequate classroom space, playgrounds and sports fields."
The Jozi Dance Company is a new multi-disciplinary dance company started in mid 2006 by renowned choreographer and ex-State Theatre Dance Company director Esther Nasser. "There is a huge gap in the dance arena and the Jozi Dance Company was created to fill that space. Our dancers are versatile and cover all disciplines - from hip hop to classical ballet. We aim, once established, to bring dance to schools in the form of set-works, as well as self development and dance therapy workshops.
"Dance is active - it's about using inner passion and energy to express a thought form or concept using the body as a tool. Similarly, the current attitude toward women in society and the economy needs to go beyond mere thoughts, concepts and expostulations of shock, horror and 'they should'-type expressions. Women need to act on their ideas and beliefs. It is only through 'doing' that things progress, change and move forward."
Sponsorship and initial fund raiser of Open Disclosure Foundation in 2002, Stella Helwick of SH Connect, says "It is important to build structures that are proactive in nurturing survivors of abuse, by creating opportunities that they may gather knowledge and life skills. Fortunately, convergence of Internet and mobile communication offers the opportunities of allowing quality and quantity of training and assistance for women of courage."
The dinner will raise funds to create awareness and support for three initiatives that are making a direct contribution in the fields of counselling, education and the arts. They are the Open Disclosure Foundation, United Church Schools* and the Jozi Dance Company*.
*section 21
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