Good first year
Kerry van Rensburg
“An annual general meeting provides an opportunity to reflect on the past year of an organisation’s life – in the case of this particular AGM we look back on the first year of the existence of the Overstrand branch of the Association for Persons with Disabilities (OAPD). And what a year it has been!”
With these opening words, Chairperson of the OAPD, Mary Faure presented her report to the organisation’s well attended AGM held in the Thusong Centre in Hawston on Wednesday, 24 August.
Faure thanked Marianne Beyleveltd for her support during the formation of the 28th branch of APD in the Western Cape.
The committee that was elected at the founding meeting on 15 July, 2010, attended their first training session several days thereafter.
Regarding the appointment of social worker Cato Tereblanche, Faure said: “We are very privileged to have and extremely competent, dedicated and enthusiastic full-time social worker. Her capabilities and experience in providing support to disabled children and their parents have been recognised by head office who have selected our social worker from Hermanus, the newest of their branches, to take part in an outreach project involving three of the branch areas.”
Faure said she hoped the fund-raising efforts of the association would progress “by leaps and bounds” in the next year. Bookmarks will be on sale during the Whale Festival and a bridge drive is planned for November.
To be a volunteer or to make a donation to OAPD, call 028 315 2610 or email: overstrandapd@hermanus.co.za.
Cato Tereblanche presented a report on the work she has been doing in teh community since her appointment in February, 2011. She said OAPD currently has 44 active clients registered and focuses on various disability types. They are based at the Thusong Centre and provides services to people in Hawston, Mt Pleasant and Zwelihle. Adrie Visser and Linda Southey were thanked for their contribution to the weekly arts and craft programme. Tereblanche said: “I have met some truly inspirational disabled people in the Overstrand. I hope that the organisation grows and can make a difference in more disabled peoples’ lives.”
Source: Hermanus Times