We work with all vulnerable and displaced individuals with a special focus on WOMAN, HOMELESS and YOUTH who have been victims of gender based violence and those who are battling with drug addiction and those who come from impoverished RURAL, PERI-URBUN, SEMI-URBAN and URBAN gang and drug-ridden communities in the Western Cape, South Africa.
South Africa is home to approximately 200,000 street homeless people. Homelessness is a complex issue and is often a result of experiences with abuse, domestic violence, family problems, eviction, economic difficulties and substance use disorders. For some people, substance abuse is a coping mechanism for escaping the hard realities and lived experiences on the streets.
Legacies of Loss. Apartheid, as a systemised and institutionalised process of race-based discrimination, exploitation and oppression, left in its wake a deeply traumatised society in South Africa. Intergenerational trauma affects one family, while each generation of that family may experience its own form of trauma, the first experience can be traced back decades.
Gender-based violence (GBV) is a profound and widespread problem in South Africa. There are many different forms of GBV which are gendered in nature, because of how gendered power inequalities are entrenched in our society. GBV can be physical, sexual, emotional, financial or structural, and can be perpetrated by intimate partners, acquaintances, strangers and institutions.
Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is a disease that affects a person's brain and behaviour and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medication. Disorders occur when a person's use of alcohol or another substance (drug) leads to health issues, problems at work, school, home and in the community at large.
Drug addiction Is Not A Choice Anybody Makes. It’s A Response To Emotional Pain. You Have A Role To Play.
Drug Addiction and Alcohol abuse is a national crisis with alcohol consumption and illegal drug consumption in South Africa recorded statistically as being double the world norm. The dire socio-economic climate and increasing drug availability has led to an upsurge in crime and violence rates.
In South Africa, we have amongst the highest rates of intimate partner violence (IPV), and recently released data from Statistics SA show that rape and sexual violence have become hyperendemic with one woman murdered every 3 hours. Only one in nine rape cases are reported
Traumatic memories affect not only those who have personally experienced conflict and violence, but also future generations through what is known as intergenerational transmission of trauma.
The widespread use of alcohol, substances and probable history of family violence particularly amongst people of a parenting age is directly associated with child abuse and neglect., and as such is disturbingly common in South Africa.
The nationwide lockdown that was implemented in South Africa in response to the COVID19 pandemic, resulted in a significant number of job losses which resulted in a major increase in homelessness in South Africa.
Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder are born with a lifelong disability which affects not only their physical growth and development but also their mental ability, behaviour and social skills.
Through criminalisation, young people are being caught up in the criminal justice system in huge numbers and ending up in jail where they are inducted into fierce prison gangs.
* ALL DONATIONS MADE IN SOUTH AFRICA ARE TAX EXEMPT IN TERMS OF SECTION 18(A) OF THE INCOME TAX ACT OF 1962.
NPC Registration No: 2018/254337/08
Registered PBO No: 930 063 426
Level 1 B-BBEE SED Certified
Stacey originates from the Corporate world of Change Management and Organisational Redesign, she also serves on the Board of the Western Cape Street Children’s Forum is an accredited Human Rights Monitor and serves on the Executive of the Provincial Western Cape Substance Abuse Forum.
Stacey originates from the Corporate world where she headed large scale corporations through Change Management and Organisational Redesign projects both in her own country of South Africa and Internationally for a period of 20 years.
In 2010, Stacey and her small team pioneered the Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy Programmes for High-Risk Youth in disadvantaged communities in the Western Cape South Africa and then expanded these programs to treat and support individuals struggling with substance use disorders, Caregivers and Victims of Gender-Based Violence.
Stacey has served on the Board of the Western Cape Street Children’s Forum since 2015. She is an accredited Western Cape Human Rights Monitor and serves on the Executive of the Provincial Western Cape Substance Abuse Forum in the Ministerial Department of Social Development.
Devon is STAND’s Clinical Director specialising in Substance Use Disorders and Addiction. Devon has recently been appointed to the Board of the National Central Drug Authority (CDA) of South Africa and is certified as an International Addictions Practitioner with the Colombo Plan in Sri Lanka.
Devon holds the position of Clinical Director within STAND and holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work specialising in Substance Use Disorders and Addiction. Devon has recently been appointed to the Board of the National Central Drug Authority (CDA) of South Africa and is certified as an International Addictions Practitioner with the Colombo Plan in Sri Lanka.
He also holds a professional and advanced membership with the International Society for Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP), England and Republic of SA National Chapter.
Devon has a passion for the implementation of professional substance use disorder services to be implemented within marginalized communities, an area of service that is significantly neglected in South Africa.
Charity Monareng is a drug policy reform advocate and a final year PhD candidate in Public Law at the University of Cape Town. She serves as the secretary on the board of the South African Network of People Who Use Drugs and Digital Girl Africa.
She has a Bachelors degree in Criminology and International Studies from Monash South Africa and an Honours degree in Social Development from the University of Cape Town.
She has done some consultancy work with the African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum and TB HIV Care before working as the parliamentary and policy research officer at TB HIV Care where she does national, Regional and International drug policy reform Advocacy work.
Julie has worked in the SUD field for over 9 years, first as an addictions and trauma counsellor in Lavendar Hill in the Cape Flats, and then joined TB HIV Care in 2013 on their Harm Reduction project.
Julie is actively involved in research, with a special focus on Women who use drugs, for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Harm Reduction International.
Julie co-ordinates the annual SA Drug Policy Week conference with Shaun Shelly and was recently appointed as the Lead for Human Rights on the Western Cape Provincial Council for Aids.
Julie also provides ongoing consulting and operational support to the South African Network of People who Use Drugs (SANPUD)
Professor Leon lectures undergrad and postgrad social development students at UCT and is a member of the National and Provincial Accreditation Committee of the DSD, the Child Justice Alliance, the South African Violence and Safety Initiative and various other professional bodies.
PhD with specialization in Criminal Justice, Master of Social Work in Community Development, B.A. (Social Work) with specialization in Criminal Justice.
After graduating, Prof Holtzhausen practiced clinical social work in a Super Maximum Prison for more than six years, where he specialized in offender profiling, assessment and mental health treatment of male adult juvenile offenders and their families.
After being promoted to the position of Deputy Director Research (NDCS), he took up the position of Assistant Professorship in the Dept. of Social Work at the United Arab Emirates University.
On his return to SA, Professor Leon now teaches both undergrad and postgrad social development students at UCT and is a member of the National and Provincial Accreditation Committee of the DSD, the Child Justice Alliance, the South African Violence and Safety Initiative, the Social Services Profession Advocacy Network and various other professional bodies.
Served as a Trustee of the Western Cape Board of the Governing Body Foundation for 6 years and has worked in the Long-term Insurance Sector for over 21 years. Theresa has a strong passion for education and specifically for the girl child.
Theresa holds the position of Treasurer on the STAND Board and has worked in the Long-term Insurance Sector for over 21 years.
She served as a Trustee of the Western Cape Board of the Governing Body Foundation for 6 years and has served on the School Governing body for 11 years; 8 of them as the Chairperson.
Theresa has a clear passion for education and specifically working closely with the girl child in area of the dangers of social media, self-worth and self-respect.
She holds a B.A. LL.B. (University Stellenbosch), as well as a post-graduate diploma in Financial Planning (University Free State), is an admitted CFP® (Certified Financial Planner) with the Financial Planning Institute of South Africa and is an admitted and practising attorney (1999, Cape Town) and legal practitioner.
Elma is the Founding director of FinLego – a specialist legal advising company with its focus on structuring bespoke personal, business and trust continuity planning for affluent business owners.
Stacey originates from the Corporate world of Change Management and Organisational Redesign, she also serves on the Board of the Western Cape Street Children’s Forum is an accredited Human Rights Monitor and serves on the Executive of the Provincial Western Cape Substance Abuse Forum.
Stacey originates from the Corporate world where she headed large scale corporations through Change Management and Organisational Redesign projects both in her own country of South Africa and Internationally for a period of 20 years.
In 2010, Stacey and her small team pioneered the Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy Programmes for High-Risk Youth in disadvantaged communities in the Western Cape South Africa and then expanded these programs to treat and support individuals struggling with substance use disorders, Caregivers and Victims of Gender-Based Violence.
Stacey has served on the Board of the Western Cape Street Children’s Forum since 2015. She is an accredited Western Cape Human Rights Monitor and serves on the Executive of the Provincial Western Cape Substance Abuse Forum in the Ministerial Department of Social Development.
Devon is STAND’s Clinical Director specialising in Substance Use Disorders and Addiction. Devon has recently been appointed to the Board of the National Central Drug Authority (CDA) of South Africa and is certified as an International Addictions Practitioner with the Colombo Plan in Sri Lanka.
Devon holds the position of Clinical Director within STAND and holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work specialising in Substance Use Disorders and Addiction. Devon has recently been appointed to the Board of the National Central Drug Authority (CDA) of South Africa and is certified as an International Addictions Practitioner with the Colombo Plan in Sri Lanka.
He also holds a professional and advanced membership with the International Society for Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP), England and Republic of SA National Chapter.
Devon has a passion for the implementation of professional substance use disorder services to be implemented within marginalized communities, an area of service that is significantly neglected in South Africa.
Charity Monareng is a drug policy reform advocate and a final year PhD candidate in Public Law at the University of Cape Town. She serves as the secretary on the board of the South African Network of People Who Use Drugs and Digital Girl Africa.
She has a Bachelors degree in Criminology and International Studies from Monash South Africa and an Honours degree in Social Development from the University of Cape Town.
She has done some consultancy work with the African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum and TB HIV Care before working as the parliamentary and policy research officer at TB HIV Care where she does national, Regional and International drug policy reform Advocacy work.
Julie has worked in the SUD field for over 9 years, first as an addictions and trauma counsellor in Lavendar Hill in the Cape Flats, and then joined TB HIV Care in 2013 on their Harm Reduction project.
Julie is actively involved in research, with a special focus on Women who use drugs, for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Harm Reduction International.
Julie co-ordinates the annual SA Drug Policy Week conference with Shaun Shelly and was recently appointed as the Lead for Human Rights on the Western Cape Provincial Council for Aids.
Julie also provides ongoing consulting and operational support to the South African Network of People who Use Drugs (SANPUD)
Professor Leon lectures undergrad and postgrad social development students at UCT and is a member of the National and Provincial Accreditation Committee of the DSD, the Child Justice Alliance, the South African Violence and Safety Initiative and various other professional bodies.
PhD with specialization in Criminal Justice, Master of Social Work in Community Development, B.A. (Social Work) with specialization in Criminal Justice.
After graduating, Prof Holtzhausen practiced clinical social work in a Super Maximum Prison for more than six years, where he specialized in offender profiling, assessment and mental health treatment of male adult juvenile offenders and their families.
After being promoted to the position of Deputy Director Research (NDCS), he took up the position of Assistant Professorship in the Dept. of Social Work at the United Arab Emirates University.
On his return to SA, Professor Leon now teaches both undergrad and postgrad social development students at UCT and is a member of the National and Provincial Accreditation Committee of the DSD, the Child Justice Alliance, the South African Violence and Safety Initiative, the Social Services Profession Advocacy Network and various other professional bodies.
Served as a Trustee of the Western Cape Board of the Governing Body Foundation for 6 years and has worked in the Long-term Insurance Sector for over 21 years. Theresa has a strong passion for education and specifically for the girl child.
Theresa holds the position of Treasurer on the STAND Board and has worked in the Long-term Insurance Sector for over 21 years.
She served as a Trustee of the Western Cape Board of the Governing Body Foundation for 6 years and has served on the School Governing body for 11 years; 8 of them as the Chairperson.
Theresa has a clear passion for education and specifically working closely with the girl child in area of the dangers of social media, self-worth and self-respect.
She holds a B.A. LL.B. (University Stellenbosch), as well as a post-graduate diploma in Financial Planning (University Free State), is an admitted CFP® (Certified Financial Planner) with the Financial Planning Institute of South Africa and is an admitted and practising attorney (1999, Cape Town) and legal practitioner.
Elma is the Founding director of FinLego – a specialist legal advising company with its focus on structuring bespoke personal, business and trust continuity planning for affluent business owners.
* ALL DONATIONS MADE IN SOUTH AFRICA ARE TAX EXEMPT IN TERMS OF SECTION 18(A) OF THE INCOME TAX ACT OF 1962.
NPC Registration No: 2018/254337/08
Registered PBO No: 930 063 426
Level 1 B-BBEE SED Certified