In 1949 The Johannesburg Marriage Guidance Society was established in response to the increase in marital and family breakdown. All reliable research showed that children growing up in a stable environment were more likely to live productive lives this research is relevant today.

In 1978 The Johannesburg Marriage Guidance Society amalgamated with The Youth Advice Bureau and in 1979 the name was changed to: Family Life Centre.

Above: Family Life Centre’s Head Office in Parkwood – Donated

The dynamic courage and vision of The Family Life Centre’s founders (which included Mr David Murray from the Johannesburg City Council and Joan Philips, Psychologist) has had its impact on The South African Society today.

• Joan was appointed as South Africa's first school psychologist at Johannesburg Preparatory School for Girls (BARNATO PARK). Many schools followed the lead.
• Joan's courage and persistence resulted in her giving talks to children and teenagers about sex - after school hours. Society has adapted this to our schools today. This courageous step is the beginning of the work we do with our Education for Living programme in the schools.
• Family Life Centre was one of the first to introduce Trauma Counselling in South Africa
• Family Life Centre was the first NPO to introduce Employee Support Services to companies.

Above: Children holding Balloons Safe Families, Save Families: international Day of The Family 2008

 

The Family Life Centre is affiliated to The National office Families South Africa. Each of the 27 offices in South Africa are autonomous with their own Executive Committees and Directors. Each are responsible for their own funding.

 

The Mission of Family Life Centre

Is to promote and maintain stable, satisfying relationships within individuals, families, marriages and community life for all people of South Africa. Work is carried out throughout Soweto, Diepsloot, Coronationville, Noordgesig, Westbury, Riverlea, Lenasia South, Newclare, Bosmont, Ennerdale, Alexandra and Ivory Park. Training courses and counselling services are offered to these communities as well as the City Centre and those reached by the Parkwood offices.

The range of services is designed to enhance the personal skills of individuals assisting them to:

• Manage their lives,
• Enrich their relationships
• Make a contribution towards developing their communities and ultimately, society.

 

The Philosophy of Family Life Centre

Numerous community-based programmes, ranging from support groups for teenage mothers and HIV/Aids positive people, to self help and income generating groups, rape, child abuse and violence awareness, student and adult education programmes, counselling and training, are offered by volunteers or social workers employed by The Family Life Centre.

 

Training and the Grounding of our Expertise

From International Experts

Family Life Centre invited many experts in their fields to hold workshops at regular intervals they included:

• In the 1950s world renowned authorities on marriages and marriage enrichment; Dr David Mace and his wife Vera Mace assisted with establishing the Johannesburg Marriage Guidence Society.
• Dr. Florence W. Kaslow, a World Renowned expert in the field of psychotherapy, visited twice and proved a good friend and wonderful teacher.
• Gianfranco Cecchin (Milan): Co-founder of the Milan School of Therapy
• Tom Andersen (Norway) introduced the reflective team into Family Therapy at Family Life Centre.
• In 1974 World Renowned Anthropologist Dr. Mead to came to South Africa and gave impetus to the growth and banish the stigma attached to marriage counselling.
• In 1974 Family Life Centre attended the first conference on Family Therapy ever to be held in South Africa.
• In 1987 Professor Wilma Hoffman – Head of Social Work at University of Witwatersrand, attended Divorce Mediation Training by the authority John Haynes in The United States. Upon her return she provided 40 hour training to The Staff at The Family Life Centre.

Above right: A recent picture of Joan Philips who celebrated her 90th Birthday in 2008

 

Services offered by Family Life Centre which address current issues in South Africa

• Community development programmes: Youth Community Development and adult capacity-building programmes reached 60 696 people over past year.
• Education for Living in the Schools: Learners participated in a variety of life skills programmes. An Anti-Bullying campaign was rolled out over past years in community schools

• Facilitators in ARV Clinic at Helen Joseph Hospital.
• Holiday Programmes, to empower the youth
• Parenting Groups
• Individual / Couple Counselling
• Trauma counselling
• Family therapy
• Play Therapy
• Support groups, e.g. HIV/Aids.
• Divorce and family mediation including maintenance issues – kept abreast of the New Children’s Act. Trained over 60 new Mediators over the past year in Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth.
• Training: we have been accredited by Health and Welfare SETA as a Training Centre. Trained 30 Volunteers serving 4 000 patients a month and other interested community members.
• Marriage Preparation and Marriage Enrichment Programmes

Above right - Our Chairman Athol Williams and Kolobe from Our Diepsloot Office

 

We have Satellite offices in :

City Centre, Soweto, Lenasia South, Westbury, Ennerdale, Diepsloot, Alexandra

 

The Family Life Centre’s Executives

Caroline

Caroline is currently a Tax Consultant in the area of Indirect Tax: Customs and International Trade with one of the Big Four Audit firms in Johannesburg. As an admitted Attorney of the High Court, Caroline has always taken an interest in the role of counselling and family mediation in family crises

Athol Williams

Athol Williams is a Senior Advisor at global strategy consulting firm, Bain & Company, where he was a Partner in their global private equity and financial services practises until recently; he worked in Bain’s Boston, New York, London and Johannesburg offices. He is the former Strategy Director for Old Mutual. He is an Adjunct Professor at Wits University in the Public & Development Management School where he specialises in strategic planning in the public sector and non-profit organisations.

Athol has a strong commitment to social and economic development evidenced by his service on numerous non-profit organisation boards and the development initiatives that he drives. Athol holds an MBA from M.I.T, an MSc (Finance) from London Business School and a BSc (Mechanical Engineering) from Wits.

Athol has been on the Family Life Centre board since 2008 and been the chairman since 2010.

Colin Smuts

Colin Smuts (Executive Director) did his O Levels at the Henry Compton Secondary School in London (UK) in 1963. Coming from a commercial management background in the '70's, his desire and drive for development led him to start his career as Co-ordinator for the African Music & Drama Association in his spare time. He followed his passion and became the Director of The Open School from 1974 to 1998, a Cultural Education Programme.

In July 1998, because of his expertise in organisational development and a heartfelt need to uplift communities and reduce poverty he became the Executive Director of CBDP.

As author, poet and columnist, certain of his poetry works were taught as part of the University of Witwatersrand first Year English Literature curriculum. Colin’s affinity with community and cultural activities has kept him active as Chairman of Spaza Art and The Bag Factory and member of the Family Life Centre Board.

Some of the Accomplishments are:

• Initiated and organised a Welcome Home delegation and official reception for Nadine Gordimer on her being awarded Nobel Prize for Literature.
• He worked in partnership with the ANC Department of Arts & Culture to organise the conference that formulated post-apartheid cultural policy in Amsterdam: "Culture in Another South Africa".
• Formation of and National Treasurer of the Congress of South African Writers, COSAW.
• Assisted with the launching of SAYCO (South African Youth Congress)
• Organiser of African Arts the Trust Fund (New York) responsible for the final selection of candidates for the Benjamin Moloise Scholarship.
• Consultant in the formation of the Learn and Teach Community Literacy Programme in Johannesburg.

 

The Family Life Centre’s Management

Liz Dooley
Director

The Family Life Centre FAMSA Johannesburg NPO 001 074
Public Benefit number 18/11/13/1661

Liz joined The Family Life Centre in 1978 as a Social Worker and was appointed Director in 1988. Liz is a mother of 4 married children and is a hands on grandmother to 7 grandsons.

 

Liz has a wealth of experience in:

• Individual, couple and family Counseling.
• Supervision of staff; counsellers and external organizations.
• Educational Programmes
• Training and is an accredited Health and Welfare SETA trainer, assessor and moderator.
• Community Work including Empowerment Programmes, Community Development and Poverty Alleviation
• Group Work
• Divorce Mediation
• Workshops and lectures
• Working with the Media; Writing and assisting with articles, radio and TV interviews

Athol has been on the Family Life Centre board since 2008 and been the chairman since 2010.

Ann Rennie
Manager of Student Affairs

Ann Rennie joined The Family Life Centre 27 years ago. Shortly after joining she took over The Education for Living Department. This involved; selecting educators – training and supervising the team.

Ann ran various Training Courses and Groups, supervised social work students during their final year’s practical work. This lead to Ann taking over the Management of the Psychology Masters students for their internship at The Family Life Centre.

Over the past 27 years Ann has always counseled individuals and couples focusing on relationships, emotional and parenting issues. Ann has enjoyed working with couples on The Marriage Preparation and Enrichment courses.

 

Claire Penfold
Head of Divorce Mediation

Claire is legally trained with: BA (Hons in Psych) LLB from Wits. She joined The Family Life Centre in Jan 2000. Claire is the Divorce and Family Mediation lead trainer at Family Life Centre.

Claire sits on the board for NABFAM (National Accreditation Board of Family Mediators) The Family Life Centre is a founding member of this board - setting standards for mediators and training for SA.

 

Pam Gillingham
Head of Training

Pam has worked as a Social Worker since 1993. She worked extensively with community development programmes that targeted both adults and youth.

Pam spearheaded specialized services in the filed of gender-based violence and sexual harassment at Wits University.

Pam currently heads up the Training Department at The Family Life Centre FAMSA Johannesburg which involves; coordinating, developing and updating the organisation’s training programmes, as well as facilitating courses. She also does individual and couple therapy.

 

Thuli Bottoman
Manager

Thuli Bottoman: Joined The Family Life Centre in October 1989 she has brought a richness of experience to the organization. Prior to joining Family Life Centre she headed up an education programme teaching Life Skills in hospitals and Family Planning Centres.

Thuli has initiated and facilitated HIV/Aids support groups. These have been successful by empowering and creating a positive attitude amongst those who attend. Other workshops facilitated by Thuli include: Stress Management, Self Awareness, Self Esteem, Communication, workshops in Conjunction with True Love Love Magazine and The Foschini Group

 

Dalene Rathnum
Head of Communities

Dalene joined Family Life Centre’s City Office 10 years ago as a counseller and community developer. She progressed in the organization and become our key EAP (Employer Assistant Programmes) coordinator. In 2004 Dalene and her family moved to The UK where she worked for the Solihull Child and Family Services, counseling children and families.

Dalene returned to South Africa in 2006 when she rejoined The Family Life Centre. Dalene continued working with EAPs (Employer Assistant Programmes), counseling, training and became a valuable part of our Westbury Team. Dalene is an accredited HWSETA (Health and Welfare) Trainer and Assessor.

At the beginning of 2011 Dalene was appointed manager of The Community Work Team.