The DNA Project aims to greatly boost the use of DNA in South Africa’s criminal intelligence system. Its founder Vanessa Lynch decided to stand up and be counted after her father was murdered during a robbery four years ago. 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 DNA database in South Africa.

Until now South Africa has been hamstrung by outdated legislation that makes no proper allowance for DNA collection and storage. This meant that DNA profiles were prevented from being uplifted from arrestees and convicted offenders.

In 2008 Vanessa spent many months working with Government to recognise these shortfalls. In December 2008 Cabinet adopted the new Criminal Law Forensic Procedures Amendment Bill and appointed a special ad hoc portfolio committee to deal with the legislation required to pass the Bill.

For further information click here

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 Dusi Valley youngsters (with hardly any previous paddling experience) to become leaders in the Dusi Canoe Challenge.

By the end of January 2009, Martin’s ambitions had been far exceeded. Of the 12 "Change a Lifers" who started the Dusi, two (Eric Zondi and Lucas Mthalane) romped home in the top 10, whilst 11 made it into the top 43 - out of a field of 1 400 entrants.

With the backing of Change a Life, Martin is currently training his "Change a Lifers" to become champion adventure athletes. Armed with mountain bikes, they are spending the winter 2009 months training for a series of tough running, cycling and paddling events.

For further information click here

I CHOOSE TO CHANGE A LIFE

I Choose to Change a Life is an inspirational turnaround programme that helps youngsters in conflict with the law to develop leadership skills.

The Valued Citizens Initiative - launched in 2001 by Carole Podetti Ngono - lies behind I Choose to Change a Life. Eight years on, it has trained more than 3 500 educators, reached 420 000 school children and worked with nearly 200 of the most violent schools in the country.

With funding from Change a Life, Valued Citizens Initiative selected 18 youngsters with previous criminal convictions in 2008 to take part in I Choose to Change a Life - a six-month program to encourage them to become positive role models and champions against crime.

The iThemba Rape and Trauma Support Centre is the latest beneficiary of the Change a Life Trust. This one-stop rape and trauma support centre provides an extremely valuable service in helping to examine and provide medico-legal, psychological and emotional support for survivors of crime and sexual assault, many of them children.

Philip Stoneman, founder of iThemba (meaning hope in Zulu), whilst working as an emergency services chaplain in Benoni, was inspired to set up a specialised rape and trauma centre after seeing how badly rape survivors were treated. His vision was not only to assist survivors of violence and sexual trauma in the East Rand, but to educate and raise awareness about trauma in general.

For further information click here