GEORGE NEWS - The introduction of a new non-profit organisation (NPO) in George, Community Wellness Project, is being planned for Thursday 28 March.
It is the initiative of Freddy Trout, founder and CEO of People Against Substance Abuse (Pasa). Community Wellness Project (CWP) will focus on the prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), tuberculosis, and gender-based violence (GBV) in local communities.
Trout has almost two decades of experience in community work through outreaches under Pasa's banner among especially the youth, which he has been doing in collaboration with his brother, Wayne Windvoël.
"I have identified a dire need for preventative action among the youth, not only through empowering them with knowledge about these topics through training programmes, but also helping them through practical measures such as counselling, testing and other means of support," says Trout.
"I would also like to equip peer educators to augment our own efforts. Creating awareness is a powerful tool to educate and bring about positive change."
His long-term vision is the establishment of a testing facility and eventually also a mobile testing unit. He is currently gathering statistics in all of the above fields that will be CWP's focus areas.
Trout has undergone intensive training in HIV prevention and testing with Nacosa (Networking HIV and Aids Community of Southern Africa) and is currently enrolled for further training in management with the organisation.
Nacosa works with a network of more than 1 000 civil society organisations to relieve communities of the burden of HIV and Aids, TB and GBV. It is a principal recipient of the Global Fund and also works in partnership with Usaid (US Agency for International Aid) and Pepfar (the US President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief).
All interested persons, schools, churches and businesses are invited to the launch that will be held at the George Museum. Please RSVP to communitywellnesseden@gmail.com or by phoning Trout on 071 090 4450 by no later than 20 March.
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