Our aim is to empower families to help themselves, and so lay the foundations for a strong, independent community.
About us
Mission Statement
Empilweni’s goal is to improve the quality of life of children, adolescents and their families in our communities by providing culturally appropriate, child centered, community based mental health support and .
History
Empilweni (Place of Healing) was established in 1994 by the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health at the University of Cape Town. The clinic was established after the University of Cape Town conducted research in Khayelitsha. The research showed that about a quarter of the 500 children interviewed had shown signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. More research followed that showed that every one of 500 children that were interviewed had experienced some form of violence.
There is particularly a high need for child intervention and counseling in an Informal Settlement such as Khayelitsha. Khayelitsha has an estimated population of about 600,000 people, of which 38% are below the age of 15 years. A substantial proportion of households are headed by single mothers, and two thirds of the population is estimated to be unemployed. There is a high rate of violence, child abuse and poverty and children are often the most drastically impacted. HIV/AIDS is also impacting heavily on children. Projected figures indicate that at least 5.7 million children in South Africa could lose on or both parents from HIV/AIDS by 2015 and more than 30% of all children between 15 and 17 will have lost their mothers.
Present
Empilweni offers individual counseling; family and group counseling to children, who are still in school, ages 4 to 18, although young adults are dealt with as well. The project is specialised in dealing with psychosocial problems and issues of mental health such as depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder. Currently, it is the only mental health care project in Khayelitsha and Mfuleni that specifically provides therapeutic and services to children and adolescents.
Apart form the above the following also complement our service
- Training in Child Mental Health
- Community outreach and capacity building on mental health issues
- Advocacy and lobbying around mental health issues and
- Inter-sectoral collaboration with other NPOS, CBOS and service providers
Empilweni Staff
Full time staff- Director
- Service Manager
- X2 Social workers
- X4 Social Auxiliary Social Worker
- Administrative Officer
- Clinical Psychologist
