Emmaus George

Emmaus is a Protective Work Centre with Residential facilities for Intellectually Disabled Adults EMMAüS:

• Is a registered welfare organisation
• Is a centre for intellectually impaire . .. adults
• Has hostel facilities and a Work Centre
• Has 48 residents in the hostel and 80 day beneficiaries who attend on a daily
base

AT EMMAüS:

• We learn new skills
• We do contract work, restoration work and handcrafts
• We do catering for meetings and workshops
• We have a hall that can be hired for meetings and workshops
• We try to create a home for the disabled where they can be stimulated and
where they feel welcome
• We try to build up our beneficiaries self-esteem

EMMAüS NEEDS:

• Volunteers who can help in the Work Centre during the day
• Donations like clothing, curtains, bedding, material, wool, etc
• Donations like toiletries and cleaning products
• Lots of prayers and support
• Financial help (we are an article 18 (a) organisation, deductable from tax)
• Help with exercises and sports


The Southern Cape Mental Health Society was established in 1963, when no facilities existed for any form of psychiatric assistance between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. During 1972 the Department of Health extended its Psychiatric Community Services and appointed a Community Psychiatric Nurse who worked in close conjunction with the Society. During the next
5 years the Society purchased its own mobile clinic, which was to be used in promoting Mental health and combating psychiatric illness. In 1977 the Southern Cape Mental Health Society established “Emmaüs” a multi-diagnostic workshop for mentally and/or physically disabled adults who were unable to work in the open labour market. In 1979 the Society withdrew from the psychiatric clinics to concentrate on Emmaüs, and in 1981the Society negotiated with the relevant authorities for the erection of permanent workshop buildings with a hostel. The Centre currently consists of a hostel with 48 residents housed in single rooms, work centre and administrative buildings. The Centre has, apart from the 48 residents, about 80 day workers who receive
therapeutic stimulation and learn new skills during the day. The Centre was officially opened in 1986 by Mr Hennie Smit.