HUMANSDORP – The Nation Builders Prophetic Apostolic Movement (NBPAM), a service centre for senior citizens in Humansdorp, hosted a special awareness programme on 26 May when members were visited by Touch Your Dreams, an organisation that works with at-risk youth.

NBPAM currently serves 50 beneficiaries, including 35 active members who attend weekly programmes and five bedridden senior citizens.

According to NBPAM Project Manager and Executive Director, Ashwell Goliath, Touch Your Dreams is one of the organisation’s stakeholders and was invited to educate senior citizens about substance abuse and related challenges affecting families in the Kouga and Sarah Baartman District.

Although Touch Your Dreams focuses on at-risk youth, Goliath said the programme was relevant to senior citizens because many seniors are affected by substance abuse within their families and communities.

“The event was focused on the awareness of youth who stay with seniors who are addicted to substance and drug abuse in our communities and the effects on our seniors,” said Goliath.

Touch Your Dreams is a non-profit company founded by Carvin Jaars.

Goliath described Jaars as a good friend who works with young people affected by addiction through awareness programmes and support groups in Kouga and surrounding areas.

Discussions during the programme focused on community challenges related to substance abuse, while some senior members shared their own experiences and concerns.

“We have seniors in our organisation who have broken the silence about their conditions and fears that some of them live in,” said Goliath.

In addition to hosting awareness programmes, NBPAM has spent the past few months focusing on staff development and training to improve service delivery and work towards excellence.

Reflecting on the organisation’s journey, Goliath said the passing of his wife, Nicolette, in April 2025, had a significant impact on both the organisation and its members.

“After my wife passed, we realised the role she had played in the lives of the seniors, the communities and in our organisation. It has been a difficult season for the NBPAM family and me, but the Lord has been faithful, and today I can declare that we have made it by the grace of God, people and friends who believe in the vision we had for our organisation,” said Goliath.

He said that the organisation has focused on equipping and empowering its team.

Goliath said that this year, two team members completed their home-based care training.

This year, one staff member completed a first aid course, two staff members completed a tree-planting course, one staff member completed a health and safety course, and two executive board members completed courses in basic counselling skills, with a guide to grieving and bereavement, domestic abuse and social skills.

Goliath said the training forms part of NBPAM’s vision to expand its services in the future.

“The purpose of the training of our NBPAM team is part of our future plans to become a movement that serves all generations and gender groups, and continues to provide services to all seniors in our community.” He added that the organisation hopes to offer professional counselling, care and support systems, as well as future training opportunities for other organisations and churches in the community.

To celebrate these achievements, NBPAM will host a graduation award ceremony on 27 June to acknowledge staff, management and team members who have completed training courses during the year.

Looking ahead, Goliath said that the organisation hopes to secure its own facility to host programmes and training sessions. NBPAM currently uses the Kruisfontein Community Hall twice a week.

Goliath further thanked the Kouga Municipality for the support it has provided the organisation over the last eight years.

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