His desire to help others live a clean life without substance abuse or drugs was the reason Emlyn Lottering (40) from Newton in Athlone approached the Athlone Police to offer his help. After speaking to Sgt Zita Norman, spokesperson for Athlone Police Station, they decided to start the accountability programme to help and uplift the youth of Athlone to live a drugfree life.
“Through the grace of God and the assistance of others, I’ve been in recovery from alcohol and substance abuse the past four years. I started a hiking group three years ago for others like myself in recovery of addiction. The hiking group has played a huge role in my life as well as others, as one recovering addict can best help another.
“I had a discussion with Norman after many years and told her about the changes I’ve made in my life and how passionate I am about helping others. She then asked me if I’d be keen to assist with the accountability programme through Athlone Police’s Youth Desk to try and make an impact in the community with social upliftment events and programmes for kids.
“I jumped at the opportunity and it’s been an absolute blessing to be able to do talks and spread the message of hope in the community. Some of the kids have never been to the mountains in and around Cape Town and experienced the beauty of the fauna and flora that surrounds us in Cape Town,” Lottering says.
The programme has touched many lives and can continue to do so with the much-needed support and assistance it requires. “Sometimes we use our own vehicles and also try to provide food and snacks for the kids, however, that isn’t always easy to do, but with the help of others through donations or sponsors the programme will make a positive impact in their lives,” he says.
Norman is responsible for addressing all the social ills in the communities falling under the Athlone Precinct and gave him a hearing and this is how the accountability programme started.
“In my daily dealings with communities, especially the youth, it is heartbreaking to hear that parents or grandparents don’t know which way to go with the substance abuse. Youth are referred to us by parents to assist with helping their children to go for rehabilitation. Some have medical aid and others not, but we help everyone who asks for help,” says Norman.
“The aim is for the young and old to be accountable after experiencing hard experiences of the social ills of the community. Hurting people hurt people but people who have healed and stand to help others are the true game-changers and trailblazers of the community. We will continue to serve with empathy and compassion and heal a community by never giving up on them because that’s what accountability is, to be my brothers keeper,” she says.
