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CONTACT Family Counselling Centre (CONTACT as it is
popularly known) was founded by a group of professionally trained
counsellors and interested individuals in 1993. It was registered as a
PVO in 1997 (PVO 6/97). CONTACT is a membership driven
organisation and there are about 400 individuals who have become members
of CONTACT over the years. The organisation is run by an executive
committee, which is elected annually during the general meeting (AGM).
CONTACT offers a
counselling service free of charge
to members of the Bulawayo public who cannot afford to pay the
exorbitant fees charged by private counsellors. Counselling is done by
the counselling officers and a group of professional part-time
counsellors at CONTACT's premises and in several satellite centres
located in the high density suburbs.
CONTACT also offers
training in counselling
skills to a wide range of health, social services and community workers
through the one-year
Certificate Course in
Systemic Counselling (CSC).
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Short courses in basic counselling and
communication skills are offered to People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA)
and are organised in support groups.
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Courses are tailor-made
to meet the needs of organisations who have a special interest in
counselling activities.
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Supervision sessions and evaluation of
counselling services are offered to interested
organisations by arrangement.
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CONTACT runs a special project that works with sexually abused
children and their families (CSA)
in a holistic manner.
We also launched an awareness campaign in preparation of the World
Day For Prevention of Child Abuse 2008: "Give a voice".
OUR STAFF
There are thirteen full-time employees in the
organisation: a director, a counselling co-ordinator, a counselling officer,
a training co-ordinator, a training officer, a
project co-ordinator (CSA), supervision
officer, finance administrator, public relations assistant,
administrative secretary, messenger and caretaker and a driver.
A part-time accountant is
also employed. A pool of five qualified part-time
counsellors is, also, supporting CONTACT’s counselling and training
activities whenever needed.
OVERALL GOALS
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To improve the functioning, mental health and
coping mechanisms of individuals and families, by increasing
awareness how the family functions as a system.
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To reduce HIV
infections by identifying risky behaviour and by working with
individuals and couples in identifying alternative safe behaviour.
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To empower women by supporting them in claiming
their rights and in improving their economic situation.
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To increase the community’s awareness of social
problems and issues such as children’s rights and needs, satisfying
family relationships and how to deal with stress etc.
HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US
In case you want to refer clients:
We are open everyday of the week from
8.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
Phone 72400 and make an appointment
or just walk in.
Services are free
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FUNDING
CONTACT's counselling service is free of charge and
only donations can be accepted. Although CONTACT undertakes serious
efforts to raise funds by charging training fees whenever it is
possible, it is still heavily dependent on donor funding to run its
projects.
The main donor is MISEREOR which provides most of the
funds for salaries and administrative costs.
CONTACT appreciates very much the cordial
relationship with MISEREOR and the ongoing trust and support. This
support was made even more apparent in 2005 when MISEREOR provided the
funds for the premises that house CONTACT in Bulawayo.
Other donors have been HIVOS, which funded the
purchase of our only car some years ago, and also provided funds for
training courses and workshops on gender issues, child counselling,
prevention of suicide and others. HIVOS is currently funding the project
on "Basic Counselling and Communication Skills for People Living With
HIV/AIDS".
DED has also supported our training activities by
providing funds for the purchase of equipment and part of the Training
Co-ordinator's salary.
Horizont3000 and EED are seconding two professional
staff members.
The Bulawayo City Council and the Dutch organisation
"Moments of Joy" and the Swiss Embassy have also supported us with small
donations.
Stanbic Bank has generously supported our Counselling
Service, following an armed robbery of one of its branches, where
Contact counselled the emotionally traumatized bank employees.
If you want to learn more about our donors, you can
click on the logos beside their names: |
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Misereor (Germany) |
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HIVOS (The Netherlands) |
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EED (Germany) |
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Horizont3000 (Austria) |
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DED
(Germany) |
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