Focus on: Community Development Division

GEORGE NEWS - George Municipality’s Community Development division, that falls under the umbrella of the Corporate Services Directorate, consists of different sections that assist the community by developing and implementing effective community-based projects and programmes, focusing on children, vulnerable adults.

Through the aforementioned programmes, the division strives to successfully address the social needs of the broader community of George and surrounding areas, including Uniondale and Haarlem.

The subsections are:

Gender and Disability Development
Youth Development
HIV and AIDS
Community Projects
LGBTQIA Help Desk

Projects that the Community Projects subsection is involved in are Project Hope (People Living on the Street), early child development, disaster assistance, nutritional centres (soup kitchens), aftercare skills development, food gardens and pauper burial investigations.

The HIV and Aids subsection contributes toward a reduction in the prevalence of HIV and AIDS in the George municipal area. The section creates awareness and education with door-to-door campaigns by distributing information about the disease.

They also do pamper sessions for affected and infected people and arrange that people receive treatment and care through the correct channels. This subsection is responsible for special events in different communities throughout the year, especially on World Aids Day (1 December), Khomanani Day and International Candlelight Day.

The Youth Development subsection facilitates and coordinates the strengthening of youth issues within George. The section aims to empower young people to realise their full potential in making a meaningful contribution to South Africa. Youth issues that receive attention are job-readiness and career opportunities.

The unit coordinates awareness events and career expos to assist job seekers. The officials assist the youth with online applications, CV formulation and more.

The Gender and Disability subsection aims to assist women and disabled people through developmental programmes to progress them into the mainstream for jobs, business opportunities and more. Disability awareness and skills development programmes are some of the ways the subsection assists its demographic.

Muni youth development: The Youth Development team.

The LGBTQIA+ Help Desk focuses on:

One-on-one sessions with clients, scheduled with social workers. Clients receive psychosocial support and are referred where necessary.
Support groups meet monthly
The helpdesk refers clients to safe spaces
Assistance and referrals are given on human rights and treatments
Education and awareness of rights and safe sex (sensitisation training and condom distribution)
Community outreaches to assist members in need of advice or assistance
Visibility in the community
Special events that the Helpdesk focuses on include Pride Month in June, Human Rights Day, Freedom Day and World Aids Day.