CASE, a community-based organisation in Hanover Park, was started by Lane Benjamin, a clinical psychologist who identified a need for dealing with the trauma caused by the rising level of violence and troubled families. This is her story.

“In Hanover Park 61% of adults do not have an income, more than 80% of adults have not completed high school and 20% of adults have not completed primary school. At CASE we focus on prevention and intervention. We are facing generational issues where kids are exposed to violence from a very young age. It is having a devastating impact on individuals, families, schools and neighbourhoods. The cycle keeps going and if we don’t get to the heart of the issues, we can’t break it.

I work with a core group of community workers who are experts in their areas. They have become the role models as every one of them have been through trauma and can speak from experience. People don’t realise the impact of the history of violence and gangsterism in South Africa, and our community workers are working on the ground to address these issues and provide a safe space for conversation. Kids who grew up being kicked around and abused don’t know what it’s like to be treated humanely. We provide a safe environment where we equip people to heal. Some kids I have worked with are currently in Matric, and if we hadn’t intervened in their lives, they could have been dead, instead of passing high school.

We have realised that the lack of male role models plays a major role in the breakdown of family structures. One of our projects, the Men’s Project, offers opportunity for young men who have been through our programme to become mentors. Boys look to older men for guidance, and I’ve seen how these ‘uncles’ have made a positive impact by treating these kids like humans.

It’s a challenge to talk to parents of kids in our programmes, because they are often using or dealing drugs themselves. Gangs and drugs are not mutually exclusive. We have to look at these issues as integrated so we can offer programmes that heal communities inside out. Very often after only one day of training or counselling you can see the light go on in a person’s life, and that’s worth holding onto.”

If you have a problem or know of someone that needs help, call the City of Cape Town 24-hour drug helpline on 0800 4357 48. For more stories, follow the #ihaveadrugproblem hashtag.

Let’s kick Cape Town’s drug problem, together.

This initiative was made possible by the City of Cape Town, Making Progress Possible. Together.