An Evening of Song to help against drug abuse by Koma

Restore Sonke plans to be a rehabilitation centre which will give hope to families battling various social problems

AN EVENING of Song, an event which will feature some top performers at the Ashley Wyngaard Hall on June 17, will double as a fundraiser for the Restore Sonke rehabilitation centre in Komani. The Restore Sonke centre was established by Charlene Williams who had noticed that an increase in unemployment levels had resulted in higher crime levels and a rise in substance abuse in the poverty-stricken area.

A survey was done and 22 individuals in need of long term rehabilitation were identified.

“Outpatient treatment is not sufficient for them as they have relapsed several times.”

Williams said the need for a substance abuse rehabilitation centre was immediate and necessary and the first step has been registering a non-profit organisation, Restore Sonke, which cur- rently offers counselling to substance abusers.

The centre, which has been set up as a day therapy unit at 7 Saffier Street in Victoria Park, offers one-on-one counselling and group counselling for both users and their families.

Information classes are presented while awareness campaigns are done at youth events and schools, with life skills empowerment a focal area.

“Our mission statement is to provide comprehensive treatment to clients and their families and to work towards a suc- cessful recovery and substance-free lifestyle.”

Williams said the short term goal was to raise funds for development of a fully-fledged, self-sufficient, independent well equipped substance abuse rehabilitation centre for mani area. Potential sponsors are asked to call her.

In the long term, the centre will offer various programmes including detoxification; a multi-disciplinary assessment velopment of individual recovery plans; cognitive behavioura treatment; person-centred therapy, both individually and