The Social Welfare Division
Background
The Social Welfare Division is responsible for the management of 56 Social Welfare Centres. The Centres are mostly located in rural areas and serve the community at large taking on board all age-groups – children, youth, women, men, senior citizens etc, within their respective catchment areas.
The Division manages the operation of the Centres through the formulation of policies and programmes that are in line with the Government Programme . The Division is headed by the Social Welfare Commissioner and Officers of different Welfare grades are posted at Centres to assist in the implementation of social welfare activities/programmes.
The Division has also under its responsibility the Dressmaking section which is responsible for the empowerment of women through running of hobby and skills development courses.
Social Welfare Centres have been at the service of the community for more than 70 years. The Centres act as a focal point in the locality whereby different segments of the population meet and interact thus reinforcing social cohesion. They are significantly contributing to influence the social development of villages/localities by networking with other social agencies for the social upliftment, empowerment and integration of local communities.
Objective of Social Welfare Centre
As laid down in the Social Welfare Centre Act 1961, the object of every centre is
to further health, advance education, provide facilities for mental and physical training and generally for recreation and for social, moral and intellectual development.
Social Welfare Committee
Each Centre is managed by officers appointed by Government together with a Social Welfare Committee comprising of 18 voluntary social workers appointed by the Minister for a two-year period. The members are representatives of diverse social groups and NGOs that exist in the community. The Committee acts in advisory capacity.
The main programme areas for Social Welfare centres are:
Sensitization/Prevention/Information/Education
Healthy Lifestyle Programme
Skills development programme, dressmaking and crafts training
Informal Education/ Edutainment
Adult Functional Literacy
Monthly Foires Artisanales / National Sales Exhibition
Income-generating, Empowerment and entrepreneurship activities.
Leisure/Recreational/Cultural and Spiritual activities
Celebration of National and International events
Indoor Games and Sports
Keep fit and physical fitness
Intercentre exchange programmes
Intergenerational activities
Group Recreational Programmes
Community Services (hire of hall, tarpaulins, chairs, tubular frames, TV Show).
Mini “Salon de Créativité'' for children
Open days for the community
Strategies used to involve the community are:
Sensitization/Prevention/Information/Education
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Social/Community-based/Community integration |
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Networking/Partnering with other agencies |
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Advocacy with other community-based associations for social improvement |
Target Groups at Social Welfare Centres are:
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DiffDifferent age-groups such as Children, Youth, Women, Men, Persons with Disabilities, Elderly and Families |
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Vulnerable groups |
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Local communities |
Students
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Social Amenities, Sports and Fitness that exist at the centres:
| Children's park, Children's Traffic Playground, Open Air Theatre, Pétanque court, Volleyball Pitch,
Football ground, Indoor/Outdoor Gym, Community Games, Mini Soccer Pitch, Futsal, Boxing Ring, Open shed and Health tracks etc.
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Role of Social Welfare Centres
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It is commonly said that a Social Welfare Centre caters for an individual from cradle to grave in order to enable him/her develop the right aptitudes, skills, knowledge and attitudes to take informed decision to manage his/her own life situation and to become a responsible individual and citizen. |
Activities proposed by Social Welfare Centres
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List of Social Welfare Centres
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List of Social Welfare Centres also used as Evacuee Centres
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