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The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, commonly known as the Order of St John, is one of five mutually recognized orders of St John. Revived in the United Kingdom in the mid 19th century, the Order of St John is able to trace its origins back over 900 years to the Knights Hospitaller.

Since those early days, the Order of St John has grown into an international non-profit, non-denominational organizations comprising over 30 000 members worldwide and operating in almost 40 countries including South Africa, the United Kingdom, USA, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

In South Africa, the Order of St John is represented by the following foundations:

• St John Ambulance Foundation www.stjohambulance.co.za
• St John Ophthalmic Foundation http://www.stjohnambulance.co.za/copy/eyes.asp
• St John Training & Education Foundation

St John Ambulance offers First Aid and Home Care training to commerce and industry, schools, government departments, the military and of course to the general public so that they can assist in times of emergency at home and work. The range of courses is designed to cater for the advanced First Aider to young schoolchildren as well as those individuals with limited reading and writing skills.

For more information visit their website at http://www.orderofstjohn.org.za/default.asp

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Witwatersrand Hospice provides care to meet the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of patients and families facing life-threatening illness.  The focus of the care provided is palliative. The geographical areas covered include:  Midrand, Alberton, Soweto, Alexandra and the greater Johannesburg area.

Within an atmosphere of care and compassion, we offer palliative care service that focuses on the quality of life, promoting physical and psychosocial well-being for people with active, progressive and advanced diseases for whom the prognosis is limited. This is achieved by providing holistic palliative care and support services, including training and education to patients, their families and care givers in the Greater Johannesburg and Soweto areas.

We provide expert palliative care with emphasis on pain and symptom management under the direction of physicians and an interdisciplinary team of specially trained health care professionals. Our services are available 24 hours a day,     7 days a week on-call support for adults and children who are terminally ill. Care services offer physical, emotional, social and spiritual services as part of the total care to patients and their families.

• General Inpatient Services – doctors work with the patient’s physician and are responsible for the medical component of our program.
• Outpatient Services (Hospice at Home) 
• Nursing Services – our Registered Nurses (RN’s) are also certified in hospice and palliative care.
• Pediatric Program – places priority on the needs of the entire family when a child is diagnosed with a life-threatening condition.
• Social Workers – provide supportive counselling to help cope with the emotional, social and financial stresses resulting from the illness and impending loss.
• Spiritual Care – our programs are not intended to replace your relationship with your local community of faith.   We provide referrals for local religious or spiritual groups.
• Volunteers – offer assistance with the activities of daily living and friendly support, companionship and encouragement to patients and family members.
• Bereavement – support to family members after the loss of a loved one. Assistance is given through counseling, volunteer visits, educational materials, and support groups. Bereavement support is available for 12 months following a death. Programs are also open to the public.
• Loan Equipment – from pressure relieving equipment, to commodes and wheelchairs etc. 
• Short Term Respite Care – short term inpatient care provided to relieve the family member/s caring for a terminally ill relative.

For more information visit their website at http://www.hospicewitwatersrand.org.za/index.html

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The Dependable Strengths Foundation (DSF) is a registered section 21 non-profit organisation. The majority of the target market are unemployed and cannot afford to pay fees. Accordingly we can only continue to operate if we succeed in raising general donations or course sponsorships. The organisation provides personal development and training through implementation of the Dependable Strengths Articulation Process (DSAP). Dependable Strengths are those skills/strengths that motivate and inspire.

Participants in the process:

• explore their own past ‘good experiences’ – those experiences in which they have been successful and which they have enjoyed.
• work individually and with group affirmation to select and articulate the strengths/skills that are their ‘Dependable Strengths’.
• produce a one page individual report that articulates and proves their strengths. This report becomes a life skills tool that can be used for job seeking and making personal choices.

The Job Magnet Process: the report becomes a networking tool for attracting job offers. Participants gain direction for the type of employment they should seek. They are able to approach employers and go into interviews with confidence. Some participants start small businesses or go into learnerships. Knowing innate strengths, talent attributes and skills assists in career planning and development
The Discovery Process: motivates and raises self esteem. It enables more goal directed life choices to be made.
The Partnership of Excellence: enhances team work as the strengths of each team member is known and utilised.

According to the Government Statistics Survey of September 2006 over 4 000 000 persons were unemployed (official definition i.e. had looked for work or taken steps to start a business…), over 3 000 000 persons were discouraged work-seekers (want to work, are available to work but are not actively seeking work). The majority of ‘discouraged work seekers’ are between the ages of 20 and 29.
“The number of unemployed graduates has increased from 60 000 to 200 000 in the last five years according to a Statistics South Africa report last year.” Mail&Guardian 17.08.2007 Your support will be invested directly in the people of South Africa. . The Dependable Strengths Process empowers participants and gives a life skills tool for job seeking and career fulfilment. Our surveys have shown that 60% of the participants using the Dependable Strengths training are successful in gaining employment or starting small businesses in their communities. 98% comment that the Dependable Strengths Process has given them self esteem and new hope.

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