The Cape Flats YMCA are uniquely placed to keep their finger on the pulse of social ills in Mitchells Plain.
So says Ishmael Petersen, the project leader of the non-government organisation’s latest project.
The project, Teen Health Safe Spaces, will be opened at the Town Centre Library in Eastridge, and the Mandela Youth Centre in Tafelsig, every Thursday from tomorrow, Thursday 26 February.
Catch and match
Petersen, who spoke to TygerBurger at the launch of the project at the Eastridge Community Centre on Thursday 19 February, said the concept of the safe space was to “catch and match”.
This means, it will offer the YMCA’s primary health care services, such as HIV testing and pregnancy screening, at the centres and will refer the young people for supplementary services through its partner organisations, Petersen explained.
He said the need for the service was identified through the NGO’s home-based care programme.
“We are partnered with the department of health,” Petersen said.
“Our nurses go into people’s homes and support them in terms of health.”
Petersen said this gives them a unique insight into the social ills that are plaguing families.
“Because we go into people’s homes, we are the referral link for the community,” he said.
“So we linked to other organisations and government departments to access services for them,” Petersen explained.
“For example, if our clients have a child that has substance abuse, we refer them to another organisation because we don’t have the capacity.”
Journey to wellness
However, once the teens are caught and matched, they won’t be forgotten. Petersen said the YMCA will still follow up on their care.
“If they don’t reach the contact then we will be the contact,” he said.
Some of the partner organisations Petersen referred to, such as the City’s Matrix programme, Safeline and the Network Opposing Women’s Abuse, were at the launch.
“The safe space will be a place where young people can come and speak to professionals and that professional can then journey with them.”
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