Women’s Day is commemorated on 9 August in South Africa every year, and serves as a tribute to over 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on the same day in 1956 in protest against the extension of Pass Laws to women.
On this day, women all over South Africa are celebrated for their strength, resilience and contribution to various sectors in society, including social work and community services.
At Badisa, our ability to serve nearly one million vulnerable individuals in the last financial year would not have been possible without the dedication of the women in our organisation. To express our gratitude and shine a light on the courageous and compassionate women who are the backbone of Badisa, we spoke with Ronel van Zyl, Director of Social Services Programmes. Her insights highlight the essential roles these women play and in fulfilling our vision of being a neighbour to everyone in need.
Social workers are the heartbeat of Badisa
“We care deeply about our social service professionals’ wellbeing and have deep respect and gratitude for the work they do every day to help vulnerable children and families in need. Amidst the challenges and changing circumstances of our industry, our social service professionals strive to render the best possible services with the resources that are available,” says Ronel.
Probably one of the greatest crises facing Badisa and similar organisations in South Africa is the lack of state funding, which directly affects its crucial work in safeguarding vulnerable people, especially children. During the 2022/23 financial period, Badisa provided essential services to a staggering 349,965 children and families. However, the organisation experiences immense pressure as the high turnover among social work staff exacerbates the situation, primarily due to the inability to offer competitive compensation packages.
Amidst these challenges, Badisa remains steadfast in its commitment to deliver high-quality services and care, which includes the social workers in service of the organisation. Badisa offers support for its social workers in the form of supervision, peer support and through various workshops and courses. Badisa also offers supervision training to all supervisors and programme managers, which is conducted over a nine-month period and is followed up with quarterly peer group consultation sessions. Ronel adds, “Diaconia has graciously provided us with financial support which enables Badisa to refer social service professionals for debriefing and trauma counselling.”
We salute our volunteers
Volunteers are a powerful resource, dedicating their time and talents to make the world a better place. Also, volunteers play a crucial role in expanding existing programs, overcoming staff shortages, and budget constraints, and making workflows more efficient.
“Our volunteer base at Badisa consists mainly of women.”
Says Ronel, “Many of Badisa’s programs were initiated by volunteers, many of which were women, within parishes and the community, some dating back over 100 years. Our programs continue to be managed by dedicated volunteers serving on our governing boards. These board members bring invaluable professional skills and experience to the organisation. Their influence and commitment help carry out Badisa’s vision, ensure donor confidence, and create opportunities to attract resources to the organisation.”
Badisa relies on volunteers to undertake crucial tasks where staff capacity is limited. Volunteers with specialist knowledge and rare skills enhance the professionalism and efficiency of the organisation. “They contribute across various areas within our programs, including service delivery, administration, fundraising, and community engagement. The involvement of volunteers also helps prevent unnecessary expenses within our programs, making our operations more sustainable and impactful,” Ronel explains.
“In the past year, Badisa had 1,656 volunteers involved in our various programs. Our success is attributed to adapting to new trends, having a comprehensive volunteer policy and guidelines, and providing a safe space for volunteers. We recognise the importance of internal advocacy, continuous evaluation of volunteer roles and processes, and active recruitment. Additionally, we strive to develop empathy in society and break down barriers to volunteer work, thereby encouraging a culture of community support and engagement,” says Ronel.
Nursing staff are our warriors on the frontline
Ronel commends nurses and says, “Nurses’ contribution to people’s health is invaluable. They have the practical knowledge to design and coordinate a model of service delivery, and to implement this efficiently. They are there to inform, advise and support. They reach people in the poorest of communities, and are often these people’s only resource in terms of health services.”
“This is exactly what we have been experiencing at Badisa, especially since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Christelle Klopper, our principal Nursing Manager, has been instrumental in leading our response. She developed vital protocols and procedures to safeguard our facilities. Alongside her dedicated team of nursing managers across Badisa programmes, she continuously monitors the environment for new threats and devises innovative interventions to strengthen our approach. Badisa operates 60 residential facilities where we care for vulnerable older persons, disabled individuals, and children in need”, Ronel adds.
Christine Quickfall, former CEO of Badisa, summarised the role of Badisa’s nurses as follows:
“Nursing has become one of the key pillars of support during this global pandemic with its unprecedented and unexpected challenges. The nurses are the ones we go to when we need advice on how to keep infections from spreading, who provide advice on how to handle the various daily problems for which we have no recipe, who unselfishly take over the role of worried family members, and who are fighting an invisible enemy in the front lines.”
Christine says her prayer for nursing staff comes from Numbers 6: 24-26 (Message Bible):
“(May) God bless and keep you;
God smile on you and gift you;
God look you full in the face and make you prosper.”
Caregivers and support staff are unsung heroes
“Our caregivers and support staff at Badisa are committed to providing essential services to the elderly people as well as vulnerable children and families, and, in my opinion, are the unsung heroes in our community,” says Ronel.
These dedicated women face many challenges daily, often working long hours with limited resources and minimal recognition. Despite this, they remain compassionate, resilient and spread hope and joy while looking after the physical and emotional needs of those in their care.
Ronel adds, “Women in administrative and support roles at Badisa play a vital part in our success, fulfilling unique and essential duties that form an interlinking chain. For our organisation to thrive, every link in this chain must be strong. Often, these women are the glue that holds everything together, enabling us to effectively serve our communities.”
Some of the traits the team at Badisa most appreciate about the women appointed in administrative roles in the organisation include:
They grasp the organisation’s strategic direction and context, fully supporting and aligning with its goals. They have comprehensive knowledge of available resources, enabling them to efficiently direct clients to the appropriate assistance. Their ability to think creatively and solve problems on the spot makes them the organisation’s “MacGyvers,” always ready with innovative solutions.
Proper etiquette is second nature to them. As the gatekeepers for managerial and professional staff, they handle incoming calls and complaints with impeccable manners, etiquette, and empathy. Their emotional intelligence equips them to effectively manage challenging situations and people.
With foresight and anticipation, they preemptively address issues before they escalate, making them not just helpful but indispensable. Their multitasking abilities are paired with meticulous attention to detail and exceptional organisational skills. They possess a servant’s heart, finding personal fulfilment through serving others.
Effective communication is one of their strong suits, ensuring clear and concise interactions. They are also tech-savvy, proficient in a wide range of integrated apps and platforms. When technical issues arise, they are often the first to troubleshoot and resolve problems, even before IT personnel can intervene.
21 Years of Caring and Serving
As Badisa approaches its 21st anniversary in September, Ronel, who has been with the organisation since its inception, reflects on why she is proud to be part of Badisa.
“Our people and the dedication and passion that they have for their work. Individuals arrive each day and do exactly what is needed to succeed, and I believe this makes us a consistent and credible organisation”, says Ronel.
When I listen to the stories of hope and positive experiences shared by our social service professionals it makes me realise once again why Badisa is about so much more than protocols and good management practices.
Ronel concludes, “Every family that is supported and relationships preserved, every child that we protect, each contribution that we make to develop the potential of children and young people make me incredibly proud to be part of this organisation.”
Thank you to all the women working towards giving children a better future and ensuring that elderly and disabled persons receive humane care, and doing their part to contribute to building a meaningful life for all.
To find out more about Badisa, and how you can become a Badisa Champion or contribute by volunteering or a donation, visit www.badisa.org.za
