{"id":48363,"date":"2022-09-08T11:52:18","date_gmt":"2022-09-08T09:52:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/forum-established-to-assist-local-npos-20220907\/"},"modified":"2022-09-08T11:52:18","modified_gmt":"2022-09-08T09:52:18","slug":"forum-established-to-assist-local-npos-20220907","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/forum-established-to-assist-local-npos-20220907\/","title":{"rendered":"Forum established to assist local NPOs"},"content":{"rendered":"

To help local non-profit organisations with the various challenges they might face, the Department of Social Development has established an NPO Forum and is inviting registered NPOs in the Kouga region to join the introductory meeting on October 4, at Kruisfontein Civic Centre.<\/p>\n

According to Sonya Hofler, who is a member of the forum\u2019s interim committee, local NPOs face many challenges in isolation.<\/p>\n

She said the forum has therefore been established to allow local NPOs to network, engage and share information which will be of assistance.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery single NPO has challenges which are general and similar, but they also have challenges that are specific to their NPOs,\u201d said Hofler.<\/p>\n

She said there was a lot of information that could be shared with the various NPOs which would be beneficial and help with the challenges they face.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are many NPOs that do not know how to deal with audits and become frustrated with the amount of paperwork they have to do,\u201d said Hofler.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn many cases, NPOs also do not know that there is a lot of funding available to help them, but they do not know how to apply for this funding in a professional manner.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hofler said that to help local NPOs deal with the many challenges they face, the Department of Social Development has developed an NPO Forum, run by interim committee members, including Charein Coenraad, Elzane Timmer, Felicity Toll, Jonker Baardman, Karen Compaan-Du Toit, Ashwell Goliath, Sonya Hofler, Monalisa Mahe, Abegail Swartz and Rienette Petersen.<\/p>\n

She said in addition to the interim committee, a subcommittee has been established to deal directly with specific categories.<\/p>\n

Subcommittee members will be designated to the various NPOs which will be divided into organisation types and aspects of community service namely, childcare, the elderly, soup kitchen and education, among a few. <\/p>\n

The representatives for each category will then meet with the interim committee to share any challenges that the various NPOs face which will allow them to help with these challenges. <\/p>\n

Hofler said that for the forum to learn about the specific issues faced by the NPOs, it is important for representatives from the subcommittee to be informed about these challenges by members of the various NPO.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople who run NPOs do not have to feel isolated because those who have joined the forum will be helped,\u201d said Hofler.<\/p>\n

She said that working together can only make NPOs stronger as a community driven project.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis forum is very exciting, and it will allow NPOs from various categories to help each other,\u201d said Hofler.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all need to look after each other because this is hard work that is being done for the benefit of the community.\u201d<\/p>\n

To allow the local NPOs to learn more about the forum, representatives from NPOs in the Kouga region are invited to the first forum meeting at 10:00 on October 4, at Kruisfontein Civic Centre.<\/p>\n