THE DNA PROJECT
The DNA Project aims to greatly boost the use of DNA in South Africa’s criminal intelligence system in order to solve crimes more easily. Its founder Vanessa Lynch decided to take action after her father was murdered during a robbery in 2005. Realising the vital role that DNA evidence could play in investigating crime, she gave up her career as an attorney and began lobbying to create a proper National DNA Database. Until now South Africa has been hamstrung by outdated legislation that makes no proper allowance for DNA collection and storage. This means that DNA profiles are prevented from being uplifted from arrestees and convicted offenders. Vanessa has worked with Government to recognise these shortfalls and to lobby for a new Forensic Procedures Bill that will enable the uplifting of DNA profiles more easily.
In 2010 the DNA Project launched a national awareness campaign, which aims to provide DNA and crime scene training to some 10 000 people associated with policing activities over a two year period. An educational DVD is the core tool of the campaign and contains information about DNA profiling, the value of DNA evidence, how to contain a crime scene, the National DNA Database and current legislation around DNA.
The DNA Project’s message to anyone who may be the first at a crime scene is:
D – Don’t touch
N – Note, record and observe
A – Assist police officers
C – Comfort victims
S – Secure the scene
I – Insist no one interferes
The awareness campaign is aimed at first responding crime scene officers and trainees, paramedics, Community Police Forums and members of the general public who can ensure that any DNA evidence left at a crime scene is preserved for collection.
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THE MARTIN DREYER CHANGE A LIFE ACADEMY
Seven times Dusi champion and South Africa’s multi-sport king, Martin Dreyer, has demonstrated how to change lives. In October 2008 he launched his Martin Dreyer Change a Life Academy with what seemed an impossible dream – to groom at least 10 underprivileged youngsters in the Valley of a Thousand Hills to become leaders in the Dusi Canoe Challenge. After four short months of training his goal was exceeded with 11 of his protégés romping home in the top 50, two of them in the top 10.
Over the past two years, Martin’s Change a Life team have gone from strength to strength, competing in and frequently winning top canoeing, trail-running, mountain biking and multi-sport events. They have become a phenomenon in the adventure sports arena, coming out of nowhere to be recognized as some of the top performers in the country. In February 2011 his Change a Lifers romped home in 1st, 2nd and 3rd places respectively in the Non-Stop Dusi – a remarkable feat. The Change a Life benefits are spread more widely too. Not only do team members take weekly food parcels home, providing much needed support for their families, but top performers such as Eric Zondi, Thomas Ngidi and Lucas Mthalane have earned enough from their sporting achievements to build proper homes in the valley.
In 2010 Martin launched a Cross-Country Running League in the Valley of a Thousand Hills to encourage hundreds of local school-children to aspire to greater heights. His Change a Lifers are the leaders and mentors of this programme, providing them with valuable leadership skills. Youngsters of all ages are encouraged to take part in weekly time trials at their schools as a prelude to Inter-school Sports Days. Every three months at the Sports Day, the excitement and tension is palpable as the young athletes vie with each other for front positions. Martin is confident that a whole new raft of fledgling stars in the Valley of a Thousand Hills are just waiting for the opportunity to fly.
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I CHOOSE TO CHANGE A LIFE
iChoose to Change a Life is a turnaround programme that helps youngsters in conflict with the law to develop valuable leadership skills. The Valued Citizens Initiative (VCI) – launched ten years ago by Carole Podetti Ngono – lies behind this inspirational programme. Since 2001 VCI has trained more than 3 500 educators and 420 000 school children from 1 605 public schools across Limpopo, Gauteng, Free State and KawZulu-Natal. Its success lies in its ability to inspire children to respect positive values, take responsibility for their civic rights and abide by the rule of law.
iChoose to Change a Life selects youngsters with leadership potential from VCI’s youth diversion programme, which is supported by the Johannesburg, Wynburg and Randburg Childrens’ courts. In recent years there has been a shift from punitive criminal justice practices towards more rehabilitative options in South Africa. Of the 5 000 children whose cases are heard in SA’s courts each month, 1 500 are channelled into diversion programmes such as VCI’s. Young offenders aged between 13 and 21 are encouraged to develop a positive self-image, rebuild family relationships and learn communication skills and emotional intelligence. iChoose to Change a Life is a six-month leadership course focused on diverted offenders who have shown particular commitment and are inspired towards implementing positive change. About 30 youngsters complete the leadership course each year and are encouraged to launch their own anti-crime projects within their communities.
In South Africa an average of 13 000 children are arrested each month for crime. Continued exposure to victimisation, crime and violence has a marked impact on social development and for many young South Africans criminal behaviour has become normalised. In 2011 iChoose to Change a Life launched a series of Stand Against Crime clubs in vulnerable schools in Gauteng to raise awareness and encourage students to deal with issues around crime.
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ITHEMBA RAPE AND TRAUMA SUPPORT CENTRE
The iThemba Rape and Trauma Support Centre provides medico-legal, psychological and emotional support for survivors of crime and sexual assault, many of them children, in Johannesburg’s East Rand area. Philip Stoneman, founder of iThemba was inspired to set up a specialised rape and trauma centre whilst working as an emergency services chaplain in Benoni, after seeing how badly rape survivors were treated.
With the support of the Change a Life Trust, iThemba is fast growing from being a local Benoni centre to an important regional force. Following a sustained awareness campaign run at police stations, the number of cases handled by the centre has increased to about 90 per month in Benoni and 100 at the centre’s Johannesburg branch. Change a Life funding has enabled iThemba to employ three full-time forensic nurses, greatly contributing to the care of victims and the ability to collect sound forensic evidence. Together with Life Line, iThemba now supervises 13 Victim Empowerment Centres on the East Rand - helping to educate the public about trauma and rape, providing support for survivors of serious crime, and training members of the SAPS about the medico-legal aspects of rape.
In late 2010 iThemba launched a crisis help-line (0861 HOPE 4 U), with trained counselors manning the phones 24 hours a day in order to help victims of violence and crime. In 2011 IThemba is developing a fully fledged trauma training course that it plans to roll out to victim empowerment centres and trauma counselors around the country.
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KUSHIDO KARATE-DO
Kushido Karate-do uses the Dojo karate facility, which was originally set up by murdered Computershare manager Mike Thomson and his brother Allan, to make a difference to the lives of under-privileged teenagers north of Johannesburg. The programme aims to inspire these children to grow in confidence and become well-balanced, productive members of society through the discipline and power of karate-do.
The programme started in 2010 with 15 students, aged between 11 and 20, who were recruited through church representatives in the informal community of Drummond. Despite being desperately poor, with few clothes and often little food to sustain them, the 15 students all passed their first official grading in August 2010 full of pride for what they had achieved. A second batch of 15 students from Cosmo City were taken on in late 2010. The programme aims to accommodate 60 youngsters in 2011 with the assistance of four black-belt teaching staff. With 30% of violent crime in South Africa perpetrated by youngsters under the age of 18 years, it is clear that positive values and conduct are essential for a healthy crime-free society.