INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND HISTORY

The Durban Benevolent Society is a registered non-profit organisation that provides alleviation of suffering amongst the elderly, the destitute and the distressed in the Durban area. It is the oldest benevolent organisation in Durban having been founded on 11^th July 1855 by prominent pioneers of Durban to assist destitute citizens of our fledgling city.  The first reference to the Society was published in the Natal Mercury on 18 July 1855 stating that “A Society under this name has just been organised for the relief of the distressed in this town.”  To quote the Concise Oxford Dictionary of Current English the definition of distress is ‘severe pressure of pain, sorrow, anguish; want of money or necessaries” which gives one a very clear idea of the heart of the Durban Benevolent Society.  The Centenary brochure stated “…it is indeed impossible to over-emphasize the value to the community of the inspired and devoted service” of the Durban Benevolent Society members.

MAIN PURPOSES OF THE ORGANISATION

The objectives of the Society are:

• To alleviate suffering amongst the aged, the distressed and the destitute by means identified as appropriate by the Executive Committee and as funds permit;

• To promote Welfare and Security of the persons falling into the categories mentioned above;

• To operate, function and service the area of Durban and

• To co-operate and cultivate reciprocal relations with other organizations to achieve these objectives and to assist other organizations financially, as the Executive Committee deems fit, to achieve similar objectives as our own.

OPERATION DETAILS

The Society focuses on support for the distressed, destitute and the elderly and acts as a facilitator by assisting the community through a variety of projects that are linked to other recognized charitable organisations throughout Durban.  The Society receives a number of requests for assistance from a variety of organizations in need and awards are made to worthy establishments once the Executive Committee has made a thorough investigation of the proposed project.  The Society aims to provide assistance and support for its projects while also creating an awareness of their needs and generating further donor collaboration.

Various ex gratia payments are also made to all the projects for essential needs that arise during the year as well as Christmas bounty donations in December for specific items.  Members of the public support the Society through their generous donations of clothing, fabric, wool, toys and other items which are channeled to various needy projects.

PROJECTS

There are currently 11 ongoing projects under way catering for various sectors in the community including care for distressed children, the impoverished and homeless, the elderly and the disabled.  Once off donations are also made for example Epilepsy SA was awarded funds for their self-help gardening project.

The Society projects are extremely cost effective at site; very well monitored by the Executive Committee and essential to the support and care of the needy in Durban. 

l CHILDCARE:

Makabongwe Methodist Preschool is a school for the children of the street traders in Warwick Triangle - they currently have approximately 70 children.  The DBS provides the school with 3 loaves of bread and 8L of milk daily.  A Management Committee from the Manning Road Methodist Church monitors the preschool and Shirley Yell continues as the enthusiastic principal of the school - the school has made great progress over the years.

St Thomas’ Children’s Home is situated in Sparks Estate in Williams Place and cares for 55 children - 29 attend their nursery school and 26 go to a local school.  The DBS makes a monthly donation towards the Home’s running costs.  The home is doing well and is supported by the community. 

l THE IMPOVERISHED AND DISTRESSED:

St Paul’s Soup Kitchen - St Paul’s Church runs a soup kitchen for the cities’ hungry homeless people.  Over the past year the kitchen has served on average 150 servings of bread and soup per day - sometimes serving whole families.  The DBS makes a monthly donation towards the food costs of the soup kitchen.  The soup kitchen has a valuable team of loyal volunteers who prepare and serve the meals daily thereby providing essential support for the inner city homeless.

Edith Benson Home for Babies & Special Care Unit cares for babies and toddlers infected with HIV/AIDS and, with the assistance of a generous donor, the DBS donates a monthly amount towards the costs of the Infasoy high protein milk formula that the babies need.

Kathleen Voysey Clinic – The Society makes a monthly donation towards food costs of the soup kitchen which runs from the Berea Presbyterian Church in conjunction with the Musgrave Methodist Church and other churches in the area. The Clinic has a number of committed volunteers [many of whom are retired nurses or practicing doctors] and meets the needs of the inner city indigent providing vital assistance and distributing aid to the needy.

Jabula Home & Day Care Centre - The centre cares for 126 children from the age of 9 months to 6 years old - there are currently 26 children who stay at the centre and 100 attend on a daily basis.  Many come from extremely impoverished and underprivileged homes and are in constant need for assistance with food and second hand clothing.  The DBS provided loaves of brown bread and fresh milk on a daily basis for the children for a number of years and supports their annual Christmas party.  The centre also runs a vegetable garden and does skills development teaching knitting and sewing.

 l THE ELDERLY:

Frail Care Foundation/TAFTA - The DBS continues to sponsor 11 frail elderly people who reside at TAFTA’s John Dunn House in Austerville.

TAFTA Golf Day - The DBS annually supports the Tafta Golf Day held at the Durban Country Club’s Beachwood course which raises funds for ‘Meals on Wheels’ for the elderly and has regularly supported the TAFTA appeal for festive Christmas lunches for lonely old folk trapped by poverty.

l THE DISABLED:

Spark’s Estate Cheshire Home is situated in Mary Road, Sydenham and cares for 48 severely mentally handicapped children and some adults and provides special stimulation and Educare programmes for their residents.  The DBS makes a monthly donation towards the Home’s operating costs.

Children with a Challenge [CWAC] is a day care centre for ineducable children run by the KZN Cerebral Palsy Association.  The DBS sponsors the fees for two children, Amber & Kwanela, both of whom have received excellent care and training at the Centre.

John Palmer Residence for the Blind - The Society has made a variety of donations to the Residence to assist with the upkeep and refurbishment of the home and makes monthly donations towards food costs.  The home cares for 23 blind and partially-sighted residents in Sherwood.