Welcome to the NICRO News!!
IN THIS ISSUE WE LOOK AT:
NICRO INTRODUCES REVOLUTIONARY SYSTEM TO THE NGO INDUSTRY!
NICRO - Turning Lives Around in South Africa
Brenda Overcomes Abuse - as related by social worker Jill Shakolsky
The NICRO Submission on the Child Justice Bill
NICRO Ventures into Namibia
News From the Western Region
GGSA Handover Mitchell's Plain
Media Highlights
NICRO Acknowledgements
Donations and Sponsorship
"Only a stronger sense of society, of community, of family: a sense of responsibility to each other -Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu- can heal the fractures that give rise to crime." -Trevor Manuel
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NICRO ELECTRONIC NEWS
"Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it .Autograph your work with excellence."
NICRO INTRODUCES REVOLUTIONARY SYSTEM TO THE NGO INDUSTRY!NICRO is proud to announce that a revolutionary NICRO On-line Client Management System has been developed and is ready for roll-out in selected pilot centres, namely the Eastern Region and the Western Cape! This once again establishes NICRO as the pioneer in the field of service delivery in crime prevention and offender reintegration. The NEW NICRO herewith takes a dynamic step that will transform thinking patterns in the NGO world and inspire paradigm shifts in many role players’ agendas.
NICRO’s objective is to undertake efficient and effective workflow and information management through the finalisation and implementation of the electronic client management system that will simultaneously serve to record all client details upon in-take, track clients and the services they receive, monitor aftercare services across all NICRO programmes and support evaluation and assessment practices.
Until recently data and information related to the delivery of NICRO services have been recorded using a wide range of differing manual methods and formats, uniform and non-uniform, and have been subject to the personal judgement of the individual provider of the service. Inevitably this has produced differences in the form and substance of various recordings, reports and statistical information and has resulted in data and information that cannot be compared and that is unreliable.
The system was developed by Complex Adaptive Systems (Pty) Ltd as a web-based solution, designed with an integrated scheduler and user authentication capabilities. It is role-centric with easy navigation, has centralized queue management capabilities and provides for complete lifecycle management of NICRO`s business processes; thus embedding efficiency across people and processes. The system goes live in April 2008 and will systematically be rolled out to all other service points as hardware becomes available.
To NICRO as an organization, the CMS will assist in aligning processes with organizational objectives and drivers; as well as identifying, structuring and measuring the range of benefits IS/IT can deliver. It will facilitate planning, minimizing information overload, encouraging decentralization, enabling co-ordination, and make control easier.
To the other stakeholders, the system provides data on the historical information about clients served by NICRO. It may be defined as a planned and integrated system for gathering relevant data, converting it to relevant information and supplying that information to the concerned stakeholders. Its true purpose will be providing the right information to the right people at the right time.
This modern on-line client management system will replace manual systems, that are often fraught with flaws and challenges, with a uniform model that will allow for the automation of all records, ensuring the systematic capture of all pertinent identification and service delivery information, while simultaneously automating and allocating services, and efficiently tracking clients through the service delivery system.
The developer that NICRO has contracted has a methodology that accepts changing requirements throughout the project life cycle, and this has afforded NICRO the opportunity of testing and evaluating the system as it is being developed and on a modular basis.
NICRO appeals to donors to assist the organization with the acquisition of the required hardware to roll out the system country wide. Your donation and/or sponsorship will hugely enhance efficient service delivery and will be crucial in the process of turning lives around with full impact for the greater good of creating a safe South Africa!
NICRO - TURNING LIVES AROUND FOR A SAFE SOUTH AFRICA.
“To lay down an AK47 and pick up the paintbrush instead! - A letter from a grateful client.The success stories of NICRO clients illustrate the impact of NICRO's work. After hearing the NICRO Media PR on “Radio Sonder Grense” on the 7th January this year, this client decided it is time to say thank you. Read the story of a man who committed a serious offence, served his sentence and has turned his life around. He is a true inspiration and reminder that NICRO is instrumental in turning lives around.
John*, a hardened bitter man, was serving a 10 year sentence for armed robbery in Krugersdorp prison in 1999 and started painting to get through the long years inside the four walls! He heard about the NICRO art awards event and decided to try and win something; what did he have to lose anyway? The rest is history: John went on and won a prize in 1999 for his painting entitled: Bathing in Africa.
He writes: "This is a letter of thanks to you all for the insight and inspiration you gave to me. I won and received one thousand rand from you. The first class treatmentI received from you and the public there that evening was the inspiration to focus on my art, to dedicate my life and future to it; to lay down an AK47 and to pick up a paint brush instead; to continue to better my art and make a career of it. This I did do. After 7 years I came out with a college degree, 150 oil paintings, lots of sketches in charcoal, ink washes, pastels; enough to kick start this new life of mine."
He completed two years of parole, living an honest trouble free life and committed to his new mission. He also found a wonderful supportive woman, whom he married. He packed his paintbrushes and travelled all over the country, painting and selling his art until in April 2006 he reached Hondeklipbaai, a quaint hamlet on the rugged West coast, where he found a hollow for his foot and decided: "this is a place where a person in my position could start a new life."
John lives a contented life in a two bedroom shack with
his wife Augustine, a dog and a cat and he paints in a run-down
caravan-studio.
When I spoke to him last week he told me that he sold 25 oil paintings to tourists last year and is hard at work to build up stock for the new "flower" season in Namaqualand and mentioned that when at the NICRO Art Awards people asked him for his autograph, for the first time he felt that he was worth it!
On your next visit to the West Coast, pop in at Hondeklipbaai and see how a man can turn his life around and restore his dignity and the faith in humankind. (*names have been changed)
Now I live a happy life and surviving. Thank you for your wonderful work." Villain.(Artist name)
Lungelo - a shoplifter turned honours graduate …an ex-client writes to NICRO
Here a short summary of my life after NICRO...I was arrested for shoplifting a chocolate at Shoprite in West Street in Durban 7 years ago. At that time I already had an ID, so that caused me to have a criminal record. My parents and I attended cases and the Judge suggested that I go and attend a rehabilitation programme at NICRO in Durban.
The Social Worker taught us how to behave in the community, how to make choices for our future, how to make sure that we don't commit the same offence again and even made us see the future consequences of petty crimes that we were committing.
My highlight at NICRO was when a gentleman called Linda Ngcongo came to talk about his life after NICRO and how much the organization contributed to his success. That's the moment I realized that I had to do something about my life. Though both my parents are not educated, both my brothers were studying and they were successful in their studies.
After NICRO I finished high school at a township school and managed to get great marks. I applied at UCT and did my B.Com Economics and Finance which I finished in 2006 and did Honours in 2007. I've currently been offered a job by Metropolitan in their graduate recruitment programme as a Junior Manager.
I would also like to offer my services talking to the kids who are still attending NICRO because after seeing a guy who was once in the same situation as me, had a huge impact on my change. I owe my success to NICRO because with a criminal record I would not have been able to work anywhere.
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BRENDA overcomes abuse - as related by social worker Jill Shakolsky
Brenda used to be a victim of domestic violence. She remained in a marriage in which she was physically, emotionally, verbally, sexually and financially abused for seventeen years. Then she came to the Ikhaya Lethemba shelter with her three children to seek help due to the violence in their home and her husband's threats to her life.
During the few days Brenda was at Ikhaya Lethemba, she saw the intake social worker regularly and was able to talk and work though the wide range of feelings she was experiencing. It became clear to her that she would no longer allow herself to be abused, nor her children to witness the abuse. When she left Ikhaya Lethemba with her children to return home, she was empowered and acquired life skills to tackle the road ahead.
She obtained a protection order against her husband and he moved out of the family home. Brenda is in the process of divorcing him. The road to healing has been a long one but Brenda today feels healed and free.
THE NICRO SUBMISSION ON THE CHILD JUSTICE BILL
Arina Smit, NICRO National Programme Specialist delivered a brilliant, passionate submission to the parliamentary portfolio committee on the Child Justice Bill on the 18th February. Here the condensed format:
NICRO's submission on the Child Justice Bill proposes that proper Assessment and Diversion be allowed for all children regardless of age or offence. The National Institute of Crime prevention and the Reintegration of Offenders
In the light of the latest crime statistics and the recent flood of reported violent acts by children and youth, it is critical that the legislators of the country recognize that, in order to effectively wipe out this endemic phenomenon, the first priority should be to create the necessary tools and services to assess, evaluate and determine an appropriate response and plan for each child. If a crime or an offence is committed perpetrators have to be held accountable; in the case of children though, it should be made clear that the behaviour of a child-offender can not be compared to that of an adult offender. The misinformed perception that exists is crime is crime and they must pay, regardless.
NICRO is strongly opposed to the exclusion of certain children from Assessment in the 2007 version of the Child Justice Bill. This Bill should ensure appropriate management of all children in conflict with the law; equal accessibility to services addressing contributing factors to criminal behaviour in the best interest of the child and the enhancement of public safety. Without proper assessment for all children in conflict with the law, the goal of consistently delivering 'needs and treatment'-based approaches best suited for youth, cannot be obtained.
NICRO urgently requests parliament to grant all children in conflict with the law, regardless of the type of crime committed, the right to Assessment and Diversion, and to take into consideration the various factors that influence the criminal capacity of children. It has been scientifically proven that a child's brain is still in a process of forming crucial cognitive and logical connections and thought patterns. Between childhood and adulthood, the brain's "wiring diagram" becomes richer, and more complex, especially in the brain's frontal lobe, which is the area that governs higher order functions such as learning and socialization. Once a child has been committed to prison and exposed to those influences, new brain connections are formed. This forms the basis of future thinking patterns and the brain cannot be "rewired" to live as a responsible citizen.
NICRO submitted also that the option of Diversion be allowed for all children regardless of age or offence. Diversion should not be seen as an easy option out of punishment. Children charged with violent crimes and referred to Diversion programmes have shown a steady increase over the past five years. The success rate of Diversion is beyond reproach: according to the latest impact study, only 7% recidivism was recorded; sufficient proof that Diversion is an appropriate option for those children who, AFTER proper assessment, show a high level of "treatment readiness" and "treatment responsiveness", regardless of the type of crime committed.
NICRO also objects to the allocation of a maximum time period related to further diversion options, as not all children respond alike to behavioural intervention; very often the cognitive and physical maturity of a child does not correlate - in other words outcomes are based on intellectual, emotional and mental capacity of the specific child in question.
NICRO thus submits that the minimum time frame for level one Diversion options should be set at no less than 3 months and level two Diversion options at no less than 6 months. Strategies deployed in Diversion practice and intervention should mainly be short term solution focused therapy, including cognitive behavioural aspects. Therefore full beneficial impact can only be attained if the time period defined in the bill rather addresses the minimum time period of intervention.
NICRO requests that provision should be made for the child who does not achieve desired outcomes within the set period, that the order can be renewed upon the courts recommendation that the child needs further intervention to achieve optimum results and the prescribed outcome.
The team at work in Namibia
In January two NICRO programme specialists, Arina Smit and Gerhard Jansen van Vuuren, ventured into Namibia to present a Diversion Implementation Workshop to local service providers. From Windhoek they departed on a grueling nine hour journey to Oshakati in a 4x4 with ONE tank of fuel and as could be expected, 160 km from the venue a flashing light indicated that the tank was empty! Lo and behold they arrived safely to face " Africa" in Oshakati .
Officials from the Ministry of Juvenile Justice from various areas in Namibia e.g. Windhoek, Ohangwena, Oshna and Kavango attended the training and covered a wide range of topics such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children; United Nations Standards: Minimum Rules for Administration of Juvenile Justice; Africa Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child; Theories of Delinquency; Restorative Justice and Developing Implementation Plans for Diversion Options in Namibia.
A schedule of development for Namibia has been recommended, which includes a quality assurance process to evaluate the implementation plans during June/July 2008; possibility of screening/assessment training and site visits here in South Africa at various NICRO nodes by the Namibian Delegation. The possibility of establishing a strong working relationship with the various role-players in Namibia within the Juvenile Justice Sector has been initiated.
The Journey Programme reaches new heights!
Cindy Celliers reports that regional staff attended a staff journey in November last year to prepare for the upcoming Journey Programmes. Since the previous Journey coordinator resigned and the venue used in the past had been sold, the programme had to be adapted. A company called Back2Basics has been commissioned to assist with the facilitation of the outdoor events of the Journey. The very experienced facilitator Eben supplies the equipment and presents all the activities to guide the children through their processes, with the assistance of skilled social workers and staff of NICRO. The sleeping bags, mats, jackets, canvasses are worn and outdated, but they make due. The staff journey was an unforgettable experience; a week that enriched those who attended and forged new relationships among the staff members as they got to know each other on a completely different level.
Lend me a hand brother!
The Journey is an intensive experiential intervention program aimed at high risk youth. It focuses on creating an awareness of personal and societal consequences and effects of crime and is based on a life skills- and psycho-educational model which offers opportunities to children to change their lives. The outdoor adventure and vocational component utilise mentors to support and guide the children.
The first Journey at the new campsite in Grabouw was conducted with a group of children from Mitchell’s Plain and was facilitated by Lizelle and Nanine during the week that the floods hit the Overberg ! The children and the facilitators returned home drenched to the bone, but in fine shape. Since then a total of 11 successful Journeys have been conducted – with two more planned for March 2008. All in all, 17 journeys have been scheduled for the coming financial year.
GGSA handover Mitchell’s Plain
GreaterGoodSA generously granted NICRO a donation of used sports goods to be utilised in the JOURNEY programme in the Western Cape. Mr Price in N1 City was the creative donor who undertook the collection of utilized sports equipment to distribute among charities.
What a joy it was to see the staff celebrate at the Mitchell’s Plain centre as I delivered the golf clubs, caddy bags, cricket mitts, kneepads, clothing items, cycling pants, water bottles and badminton racquets! We had a real fancy dress parade and the trainees in the centre had a great entertaining half hour while we unpacked the goodies and got the team ready for the pictures.
GGSA, THANK YOU for bringing joy NICRO Mitchell’s Plain!
GGSA also initiated NICRO attendance at a seminar in Stellenbosch for NGO’s arranged by Coetzee and Associates Business Consultants for training in client management skills.
Venessa Padayachee was interviewed by two TV talk shows in January. Kagiso TV presents Encounters on SABC 2 and the topic of discussion was: Crime and the Impact on Human Rights, to be broadcast at 12h30 on the 13 th of April 2008.
SABC AFRICA: African View interviewed Venessa on the following:
What motivates women to commit crime? How do mothers, daughters and sisters of perpetrators deal with the circumstances? How can society assist them with this reality?
Arina Smit was interviewed Friday 22 February at 07h15 on MORNING EDITION on E-TV on youth violence.
RSG dedicated a week to broadcast NICRO as their charity of the week on the 7-14 January 2008. Karin Blumer was interviewed by Johan Rademan and the phones were ringing off the hook!
Arina Smit , NICRO national programme specialist was interviewed by the Sunday Times on violence among young school girls and the article appeared on the 10 th February.
This is a shining example of how media exposure can catapult. She has been inundated with calls on related topics, which culminated in an interview on Voice of the Cape the past week, an interview with 702 Talk Radio yesterday and on Cape Talk 567 and an article appeared in Die Burger.
The 3 rd Degree producers also contacted NICRO as we keep on bombarding them with press releases and success stories. They requested to interview NICRO clients who have committed serious crimes and were so impressed with the calibre of the persons we recommended that they will do a documentary on them later this year!
A SAFM interview took place after the NICRO press release on theChild Justice Bill submission to parliament on the 19 th February.
SABC NEWS: Sarel Van Vuureninterviewed Arina Smit on 6 th March on the issue: Children behind bars, which will be featured in all the news related programmes on SABC on the 17 th March.
Executive Director, Soraya Solomon was interviewed by SAFM on the topic “ Constructive Rehabilitation” on 3 rdApril on Morning Talk. Allan Heyl, rehabilitated ex-member of the Stander gang, was also on the panel.
16 April: Arina Smit was interviewed by Business Day on the impact of the Child Justice Bill on children in the courts.
The NICRO manager of the Eastern region, Irene Chetty appeared on the SABC 2 Programme, LEIHLO LA SECHABA on the April. The interviewer discussed the role NICRO plays in crime prevention and reintegration of child offenders, as well as areas of discontent regarding the Child Justice Bill.
Thank you, Thank you and Thank you again!!
NICRO acknowledges in gratitude the contributions of our donors and sponsors, whitout which we would not be able to fulfill our mission of making South Africa safe!
Thank you to:
The National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund
Department of Social Development
DANIDA – Royal Danish Embassy
CORDAID
Department of Justice
Anglo American Chairman’s Fund
Bortnik V Mr
Community Chest
C & E Harding Trust
Cameron E The Hon Mr Justice Cape Consumers
Chidley C T Mr
Coates Brothers
Dyer M M Mr
Dhlodhlo A E B The Hon Mr Justice
Edna Burford Trust
Fagan J J The Hon Mr Justice
Ford Foundation
General Council for the Bar
Goldman R Mr
Howie C T The Hon Mr Justice
J E T Lee Will Trust
Katz M M Prof
Lategan E Dr
Menell Irene Mrs
Nedgroup Investment Balance Fund
NICRO UK Trust
Open Society Foundation
Patricia Sheila Policansky Testamentary Trust
Standard Bank Foundation
Gifts in Kind
AAA School of Advertising
Africa Art Factory
Appletiser
Brewers Ims: Interactive Market Systems South Africa (Pty) Ltd
Chorus Call
DraftFCB Agency Cape Town
Fountain Hotel and Conference Centre
G A Design
GreaterGoodSA
Janine Lazarus Media Consultancy
Newsclip Media Monitoring
The Rt Honourable British High Commissioner Paul Boateng
Vega School
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Donations and Sponsorship
NICRO appreciates and welcomes your interest, support and comment on programmes and activities country wide.
If you would like to make a donation to NICRO, large or small, you can:
1. Fill in the Donation Pledge Form, print and send it to NICRO with a cheque OR
2. Email the Donation Pledge Form to NICRO. You can follow this up by sending a cheque or depositing the money directly into NICRO's account OR
3. Set up a monthly Debit Order into NICRO's account. Click here for NICRO's Bank Details and please fax your bank deposit slip to Lynne Thackeray at +27 21 462 2447 OR
4. Phone Lynne Thackeray direct at +27 21 462 0017
5. Email us with you comments at info@nicro.co.za
6. Please visit our website www.nicro.org.za
Thank you for reading our newsletter. We look forward to hearing from you.