When changing lives,there is no quick fix

When Lizelle van Wyk joined the Orion Organisation in Atlantis outside Cape Town as chief executive officer in 1998, this non-governmental organisation (NGO) was in financial turmoil and in real danger of bankruptcy. Its image was in tatters and trade union action lurked. Donors, the lifeblood of an NGO of this nature, threatened to quit in disgust.

This year, just weeks before the start of the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup, a young marketing manager from a German wholesaler of solar panels and plants, Sonja Schinzel, visited Orion to familiarise herself with its work.

The purpose of her visit was to convince herself and her organisation, jms Solar Handel GmbH, to pledge donations to Orion for every goal scored by the German soccer team during the World Cup in South Africa.

Orion, a therapeutic training centre for the disabled which welcomed Schinzel, was remarkably different to the one into which Van Wyk stepped during the dark days of January 1998.

Schinzel visited the Wilge Special Care daycare centre where around 35 children receive specialised therapeutic attention.

She also made a day trip to six group homes including a semi-frail care home for 60 adults, as well as a daycare centre for 30 profoundly disabled adults, two work centres, a bakery and a professional job placement programme.

Schinzel was overwhelmed: “I have been thrilled by the way in which Orion empowers and uplifts people. I have shared my impressions with the managing director, and we are delighted to support Orion financially in its endeavours.”

Under Van Wyk’s leadership, Orion developed its therapeutic and training services to such an extent that over the past three years, 34 people with various types of disabilities were successfully placed in permanent positions into the open labour market. Some of them work as bakers, others are qualified machine operators, and cleaners of kitchen staff.

Through the income-generating projects, Orion is able to meet 30% of its own monthly financial commitments.

Awards and a beacon of hope

Orion has emerged as a beacon of hope for other NGOs by embracing the needs of disabled communities in South Africa.

Organisations such as Sparrow Schools in Johannesburg, Oasis in Claremont, Connie Mulder Centre for Disabled People, and Sterrewag Special Daycare Centre have visited Orion over the past 18 months to gain experience on how to establish and manage their own income-generating projects.

In 2006, Orion received the coveted Hamlet Foundation’s national award for the organisation that rendered the best service to people with intellectual disabilities in the country. Van Wyk was short-listed five times for the award for Woman of the Year in Government and Business, and was the winner as the country’s Most Influential Woman in Government and Business (welfare sector) in 2008/2009.

This year, her name appears again on the list of finalists for the latter.

Dr Ivan Meyer, Western Cape MEC for Social Development, highlighted Orion’s approach to corporate governance as an iconic model for all other NGOs in the province in 2009.

Rewind to 1998

How did Van Wyk and her loyal team of professional workers and support staff rescue a sinking vessel, destined for the seabed and tossed around by the waves and the wind in a perfect commercial storm?

The daunting primary challenge was to change mindsets. She was confronted with real chauvinistic and racial prejudices. Her female colleagues said they could not tolerate the fact that she was white, while her male colleagues could not come to terms with a female manager in a male-dominated corporate environment.

Van Wyk decided on a three-step recovery process and turnaround strategy: Firstly, she had to rebuild the trust of her personnel.

Secondly, she had to convince industries around Atlantis about the credentials and working skills of disabled people.

She further had to empower disabled people to provide these essential skills to the corporate environment.

Rebuilding trust

“In order to rebuild trust, I had to start from scratch to change negative attitudes and energy into something positive before addressing our alarming financial status quo,” says Van Wyk.

“They also had to learn to embrace change – change that would bring prosperity.”

She had to convince industries around Atlantis that disabled people are perfectly able to provide essential commercial services in their fields
of expertise.

Diversify in order to grow

In association with the board of trustees, she terminated certain projects that were not commercially sustainable. “We had to diversify, and we decided to concentrate on doing contract work, including the assembly of motor car parts and recycling of plastic hangers.”

She also had to do market research, establishing industrial needs in the vicinity of Atlantis, identifying opportunities fit for people with disabilities to create income-generating projects.

“The next step was to convince industries to give us a chance and that the work opportunities identified could be performed perfectly by disabled people,” says Van Wyk.

The industries were bowled over by the professionalism and efficiency of the dedicated Orion team.

Forming new partnerships

Van Wyk and her board of trustees invested immense time and energy into developing training centres where the disabled could acquire skills for assembly work in the motor industry, recycling work of plastic hangers and culinary work for Orion’s bakery.

Successful partnerships in contract work have been formed with TRW Automotive, Bokomo Foods, Hangerman, Woolworths, Desta Power Matla, Kaytech, GUD Filters, Mondi Plastic Containers and Golden Era Packaging.

The income-generating projects have now grown to such an extent that a new contract building had to be added to create space for
more work.

A bakery was fitted where many trainees are taught to become bread bakers. Orion invited a qualified baker from Germany to join the team to train the trainees to become confectionery bakers.

Van Wyk also spearheaded efforts to change the approach to fund-raising. The organisation was self-sustaining to a certain degree, but still had to supplement its income-generating projects through government grants and local and international donations.

It required the expertise, funds for special projects and funds for much-needed operational costs, as professional therapeutic services came at a considerable cost.

From Atlantis to Paris

The Orion Organisation sought successful partnerships with donors both locally and abroad. Through one of these partnerships (in Germany), it was chosen as a pilot project for South Africa.

Currently, Orion is establishing a similar partnership with France, and a ground-breaking visit to the main donor in Paris took place in September 2009.

Since 2004, it has organised an annual gala that has become the major fund-raising event of the year for the organisation.

This event is now part of many a large corporate company’s year planner. Celebrities such as Pieter-Dirk Uys, Bianca La Grange, Marc Lottering, Wolfgang Riebe as well as Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and Western Cape Premier Helen Zille were among the attendants.

Breaking down barriers

Van Wyk says Orion endeavours to create an environment free of prejudice, stigmatisation and discrimination, by focusing all its efforts on creating awareness, educating the community and industries, and providing a sense of meaning and purpose in a very liberating and empowering way.

“Often, our clients send their employees to our trainees for conduct training, or vice versa. To us, this is a dream come true.

“Orion is setting an example of a ‘disabled’ environment creating jobs for many able-bodied workers. This is also creating opportunities to break down barriers,” she adds

“We believe in empowering the disabled with basic life- and technical skills, giving them therapeutic training and education and issuing them with therapeutic aids and devices that are able to assist. By doing this, we offer them a real chance to become independent, fulfilled members of society,” says Van Wyk.

HIV/Aids programme and art

Recently, an HIV/Aids programme was developed to cater specifically for the level of understanding for people with intellectual and mental disabilities. Orion received special recognition from the Department of Social Development for this effort.

The organisation established therapeutic recreational areas for children and adults, including a fully equipped therapeutic playroom, complete with hydro baths as well as massage facilities.

It includes two indoor, heated swimming pools where weekly therapeutic swimming lessons are conducted by spastic diplegia swimmer, Lydia Goldswain.

Orion successfully launched an official art project where the children and profoundly disabled adults have the opportunity not only to get creative, but also feel part of the productive team – giving them a feeling of self-worth.

Approach

Van Wyk had to challenge fundamental flaws in the approach of Orion before affecting the turnaround.

“I think too often, leaders try to implement ‘quick fixes’,” she explains. “There is no such thing as a ‘quick fix’ in an organisation where dedicated community volunteers have invested many hours of their lives into an organisation they thought was perfectly fine.

“I was confronted with their disappointment and I had to turn it around.”

“The team had to learn that honesty and integrity are non-negotiable, especially when working with public funds. Transparency is needed at all times. One can have the best intentions in the world, but if you lack integrity, the foundation will eventually crumble,” adds Van Wyk.

Leadership and mentors

Van Wyk subscribes to the principle of surveying and learning from other leaders.

Premier Zille has made a profound impression on her. “Her honesty, integrity and strength inspires me, as well as her firm stand for righteousness. The fact that she also invests time and energy into fund-raising for drug rehabilitation is remarkable,” she says.

Van Wky also credits the international brand philosopher Timothy Maurice Webster with inspiring her to “know, look and live the part”. “Timothy is globally respected by leaders and followers alike for his boldness and authority in personal branding,” she says.

Vision beyond 2010

Van Wyk wants to develop a fully fledged sports ground area, including a golf course and soccer field for the people at Orion, with the ultimate goal to mobilise participation from learners from the Atlantis community.

She further seeks to establish a safe place for children with disabilities from the time they are born, right up until they are 18 years old.

The project has received approval from the departments of Social Development and Health, but there has been no ‘lift-off’ due to a lack
of funds.

Van Wyk’s next income-generating endeavour is to establish a conference and catering facility at Orion to render much-needed services to the community, but also to secure additional funds for the organisation.

“I also want to launch my own business to coach and mentor non-profit organisations to be more successful,” she says.

Van Wyk has earned the right to mentor others because she has led an organisation hamstrung by debt and internal turmoil, and inspired it
to greatness. ▲ ▲

Fanie Heyns