NICRO Free State has a staff component of ten and renders services from three service points: Bloemfontein, Bethlehem and Kroonstad. During the year under review a total of 5 597 clients were reached, the majority of whom were victims of crime. Most of these were survivors of rape and domestic violence. In addition to providing comprehensive victim support services through the Community Victim Support Programme, the provincial office also offers the Diversion Programme, the Economic Opportunities Programme and the Offender Reintegration Programme.
Given our small staff complement, NICRO Free State relies heavily on the support of community volunteers to render effective services. It is thanks to assistance from 54 dedicated, hard working volunteers that we have been able to provide crisis intervention, conduct information sessions and offer the range of diversion and youth development programmes that we do. With the exception of 15 newly trained individuals, all volunteers have worked at NICRO for a period ranging from two to four years. Thanks to the support of these highly motivated and experienced volunteers, staff members can now focus on building capacity within communities, as well as networking and establishing partnerships with government departments and other stakeholders.

This provincial office spearheaded the establishment of the Tshepong 24-hour Victim Support Centre in Bloemfontein and the Witness Support Centre in Bethlehem, and was involved in the establishment of the first One-Stop Child Justice Centre in the Free State. The Victim Support Room at the Bethlehem SAPS has been operational since January 2002.

For the first time in a decade NICRO Free State was able to increase staff salaries and to conclude the financial year with a surplus. Most of the income received was outcome-based funding channelled via NICRO’s National Office. Hard work, enterprise and dedication on the part of staff and volunteers alike ensured that we were able to deliver effective services, reach our targets and secure this funding.

Performance

Free State

Individuals

Workshops

Total

CVS
2520

1277

3797

DIV
1024

207

1231

OR
142

26

168

EOP
239

162

401

Total
3925

1672

5597

Cheryl Holmes

NICRO GAUTENG

NICRO Gauteng held their first-ever fundraising dinner in August 2001. The event incorporated the provincial award ceremony and will long be remembered for its splendid success. Mr Trevor Manuel, Minister of Finance, delivered the keynote address and welcomed corporate representatives, special guests and provincial award nominees from far and wide.

Mr Manuel reminded us that we live in a society where too many people have been or are being marginalised, where too many have suffered yet another decade of jobless frustration, where too many young people find themselves at risk and at the fringes of society, and too many have fallen victims of crime and violence. "The world we live in is not a nice place. The world we live in is certainly not a caring place. Too few of us are prepared to do much about it. NICRO is an important exception", he said in his tribute to NICRO.

"NICRO exists as an act of faith, it exists to live out the fundamental belief in the innate goodness of people. For this reason its role is so valuable.... It deserves all of our support....... We (that is, the government) must ensure the arrest and prosecution for breaches of both common-law and statutory offences. We must try the accused, sentence them, imprison and attempt to rehabilitate them - our job is to uphold the law. But we cannot do this without solid interventions from NICRO in the lives of the individuals
and the communities from whence they come."

Mr Trevor Manuel - Minister of Finance

Investing in the Community

Twelve determined young men stepped into the CTM Tiling Academy with a mission. They were tough, some were even involved in crime, but they all had approached NICRO and asked for help. They wanted to earn money, do something with their lives and take care of their families. Italtile offered assistance through the Tiling Academy by means of a 10-day Mastertiler course, tools to use on their own projects and certificates upon completion of the course. The aim would be to teach each individual how to skillfully plan an area to be tiled, mix and use the correct adhesives and tile on different surfaces.

This proved a little more challenging than most because none of these men had any tiling experience whatsoever. However, instructor Shafiek Abrahams had dealt with projects like this for some time and with his knowledge, patience and skill, steered the group in the right direction. These men certainly had the will to succeed and succeed they did.

In April 2002 Italtile was invited to the certificate ceremony where NICRO Mastertilers had tiled the reception area, lecture rooms and toilets to name but a few. The efforts from Italtile paid off because the tiling was done in an extremely professional manner.

The Mastertiler certificate coupled with the Business Management Course ensured that members of this group are well on their way. NICRO have already marketed the group within the community and they have quite a few tiling jobs lined up.

Performance

Gauteng

Individuals

Workshops

Total

CVS
10494

839

11333

DIV
4365

2747

7112

OR
800

733

1533

EOP
2391

1566

3957

Total
18050

5885

23935

Copies of this Annual Report are available from the NICRO National Office nicro@wn.apc.org