OUR HISTORY
Records show that in 1933 a concerned group of volunteers from Verulam approached officials Mr and Mrs Albert Christopher and Mr S. Dass of the Durban Indian Child Welfare Society, the first Indian child welfare society to be formed in the country (1927) to render basic welfare services to its people. With the assistance and guidance from Durban Indian Child Welfare Society, a simple three page constitution was drawn up and the Verulam and District Indian Child Welfare Society came into being, the second Indian child welfare society to be formed in the country.
Although the South African National Council for Child Welfare existed at the time, its policy restricted representation to europeans only. In 1939 after continued agitation for non-european representation in the South African National Council for Child Welfare, the formation of a National Council for the different racial groups was agreed to with a Joint Consultative Committee representing the four National Councils to consult on matters of common interest. To implement this idea, the Durban Indian Child Welfare Society took the initiative in assisting in the general establishment of child welfare societies with the ultimate view of forming a National Organisation of Indian Child Welfare Societies.
The Verulam & District Indian Child Welfare Society now saw the need to be more formally organised. Subsequently on 2 February 1939 at a Special General Meeting held at the Verulam Town Hall, a new constitution was adopted and officials elected. The president was Mr V. Subban; Vice Presidents – Messrs J.B. Stephens, R. Joshua and Miss B. Choonoo; Hon. Secretary – Mr C. Kistan; Hon Treasurer – Mr N. Raghaujee. The Management Committee Members were:
- Mr D.V Moodley (Snr), Mr B. Sham; Mrs C. Subban; Mrs V. Subban; Miss S. Sham; Mrs V. Subban; Miss R. Raghaujee; Mr V. Govindsamy; Mr L. Rajcoomar; Mr I. Joshua; Mr L. Chetty; Mrs V. Govindsamy; Miss Mimmie Choonoo ;Mrs M. Mahasingh; Mr S. Ramgobin; Mr D.P Samuel
This historic meeting was published in the Indian Opinion (a local newspaper founded by the late Mahatma Gandhi). The Society was registered as a Welfare Organisation in terms of the Charitable Institutions (Control) Ordinance of 1932 and the number W.O. 1035 was assigned to the Society in 1939.
In 1981 the Society being the only welfare organisation rendering welfare services in this area and being committed to serve on a non-racial basis, dropped the Indian tag and amended its name to the Verulam & District Child & Family Welfare Society and later to Verulam Child & Family Welfare Society.
OUR HISTORY
Records show that in 1933 a concerned group of volunteers from Verulam approached officials Mr and Mrs Albert Christopher and Mr S. Dass of the Durban Indian Child Welfare Society, the first Indian child welfare society to be formed in the country (1927) to render basic welfare services to its people. With the assistance and guidance from Durban Indian Child Welfare Society, a simple three page constitution was drawn up and the Verulam and District Indian Child Welfare Society came into being, the second Indian child welfare society to be formed in the country.
Although the South African National Council for Child Welfare existed at the time, its policy restricted representation to europeans only. In 1939 after continued agitation for non-european representation in the South African National Council for Child Welfare, the formation of a National Council for the different racial groups was agreed to with a Joint Consultative Committee representing the four National Councils to consult on matters of common interest. To implement this idea, the Durban Indian Child Welfare Society took the initiative in assisting in the general establishment of child welfare societies with the ultimate view of forming a National Organisation of Indian Child Welfare Societies.
The Verulam & District Indian Child Welfare Society now saw the need to be more formally organised. Subsequently on 2 February 1939 at a Special General Meeting held at the Verulam Town Hall, a new constitution was adopted and officials elected. The president was Mr V. Subban; Vice Presidents – Messrs J.B. Stephens, R. Joshua and Miss B. Choonoo; Hon. Secretary – Mr C. Kistan; Hon Treasurer – Mr N. Raghaujee. The Management Committee Members were:
- Mr D.V Moodley (Snr), Mr B. Sham; Mrs C. Subban; Mrs V. Subban; Miss S. Sham; Mrs V. Subban; Miss R. Raghaujee; Mr V. Govindsamy; Mr L. Rajcoomar; Mr I. Joshua; Mr L. Chetty; Mrs V. Govindsamy; Miss Mimmie Choonoo ;Mrs M. Mahasingh; Mr S. Ramgobin; Mr D.P Samuel
This historic meeting was published in the Indian Opinion (a local newspaper founded by the late Mahatma Gandhi). The Society was registered as a Welfare Organisation in terms of the Charitable Institutions (Control) Ordinance of 1932 and the number W.O. 1035 was assigned to the Society in 1939.
In 1981 the Society being the only welfare organisation rendering welfare services in this area and being committed to serve on a non-racial basis, dropped the Indian tag and amended its name to the Verulam & District Child & Family Welfare Society and later to Verulam Child & Family Welfare Society.