Background of Orion Organisation
Founded in 1982, Orion Organisation is a model of hope to as many as 3000 disabled people who have passed through its doors since its inception. Orion has achieved great things, thanks to the support of partners, stakeholders, donors and volunteers. The organisation has received special recognition for outstanding service on several occasions.

Orion is a duly constituted Non-Profit Organisation and Section 21 company with Public Benefit status. The organisation is based in Atlantis, Western Cape, approximately 50km from the city of Cape Town. Atlantis is an industrial and residential area with a population of 180 000 people. Traditionally Atlantis is seen as a low income area, where a large proportion of the population consists of previously disadvantaged, unemployed South Africans.

Main focus
The organisation is dedicated to caring and providing for the educational, training and therapeutic needs of children, youth and adults living with physical, mental, intellectual and neurological disabilities.

Vision
Orion aims to be the preferred therapeutic and training centre for disabled people in the Western Cape; a beacon of hope dedicated to caring, educating, training and the therapy of mentally, physically and intellectually disabled children and adults. Orion will always be a centre in which people can work and live harmoniously, striving to become fulfilled, productive members of society.

Mission
Our mission is to sustain and grow the team that trains and inspires the disabled in our community to reach their full potential, and to continue building networks to facilitate the placement of disabled people in the open labour market.

Orion will always provide the support that families need in order for them to assume responsibility for the home-based care of their disabled member or members. Through our dedicated service to our clients, our customers and our community, Orion will continue to inspire those around us.

Our Projects

• Wilge Special Day Care Centre for children with special needs between the ages of 18 months and 18 years old.
• Activity Day Care Centre for profoundly disabled adults over the age of 18 years, who are not capable of participating in work centre activities.
• Enabling Art Centre where disabled artists have the opportunity to express themselves through creating unique art work pieces with the ultimate goal to create a platform for dialogue addressing social justice issues.
• Group Homes programme providing residential care and a haven from violence, abuse and neglect for disabled adults.
• Semi Frail Care Home, a specialised unit that provides more intensive supervision and medical care for residents who are unable to assist themselves and have no family to care for them.
• Work Centres, undertaking contract work which involves unskilled labour and repetitive tasks such as assembly, collating, gluing, specialised packing, sorting and recycling for local companies and industry.
• Job Placement programme, focussing on the development of the individual to reach his or her full potential and to be integrated into the open labour market.

Meet the Team
 

	CEO: LIZELLE VAN WYK Lizelle has been the CEO of Orion since 1998. Before joining Orion, she specialised in Industrial Social Work and managed the Corporate Social Investment portfolio for a large corporate company. She is a trustee member of the SA Mental Health Pension and Provident Funds, and an executive board member of the Cape Coast Chamber. During August 2008 she has been awarded by the CEO magazine for "SA's Most Influential Women in Business and Government – Welfare and Related Services Category". One of her favourite hobbies is cooking and in 2006 she was a finalist in the "SA Domestic Goddess" cooking competition. Together she and her husband, Johan, have 4 children – all of them young, independent professionals in their own rights.  Lizelle's passion for creating opportunities for people with disabilities, as well as breaking down stigmatization and victimization that are usually associated with "being disabled", is visible in the work that is been done at Orion.
	FINANCIAL MANAGER: MARY-ANN CEDRAS 20 Years ago, Mary-Ann started as a junior supervisor at the Hangerman Department in the first Orion workshop. From the beginning, she showed a contagious enthusiasm for the people at Orion, and this carried her from strength to strength. She decided to "look and learn" and was promoted to the administrative offices, and soon discovered her flair for finances. After thorough training, she is the financial manager today, keeping a tight fist on the reigns when it comes to money matters.
	SOCIAL WORKER: CAROLINE JACOBS Caroline graduated as Social Worker in 2000, worked for Badisa Elsiesriver and for the Department of Social Development prior to joining Orion during 2005. Her days are filled with screening of residents and trainees, overseeing the job placement programme, managing the Group Homes and Activity Day Care Centre for adults, running the Employee Assistant Programmes, is responsible for the HIV/AIDS prevention programme, listens to everybody's joy and heartaches, intervenes and build bridges between the disabled and their families, and still finds time to cuddle her own 3 young children at the end of a long day! To us she is "Super Woman".
	PRODUCTION MANAGER: FELICIA JURIES Felicia is another lady who showed her true passion for people living with disabilities over the past 20 years. Like Mary-Ann, she started off as a junior supervisor, and it did not take long for the management team to recognise Felicia's potential. Felicia's excellent communication skills make her a true winner with our customers and clients. She bowls them over with her beautiful smile and "Customer is King!" credo. She has been the production manager for the past 6 years, leading a team of 9 hands-on supervisors.
	FACILITY MANAGER: SYDNEY DE VRIES After being a courier driver for many years, Sydney started at Orion as the assistant to the groundsman, but soon became the driver, the handyman, the "Dr Fixit". After 3 years of showing his true commitment, Sydney is now the Facility Manager, taking care of Maintenance and Transport, as well as the Garden team.
	PRO: PRISCILLA CLOETE Priscilla joined Orion during May 2008, after working at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the National Prosecuting Authority and Western Cape Network on Violence Against Women. She obtained a Diploma from the University of Western Cape for successfully completing Organisational Development and Leadership including Trade Union Studies Nationally and Internationally. She has gained excellent office management and administration skills from both the government sector and civil society. Apart from assisting the CEO with important administrative tasks, she plays a vital role in Fundraising and Public Relations. Her main focus became sourcing of new donors and building relationships and partnerships with Friends of Orion.
	WILGE PRINCIPAL: VERONICA PERSENCE After I left school I studied Theology and Early Childhood Development formed part of my studies. Prior to joining Team Orion in 2006, I was employed at a Media and Training Centre, and here I was given the opportunity to enhance my communication, administration, finance and managerial skills. At Orion I was appointed as the coordinator, Income Generating Projects department. Here I gained experience in working with people with disabilities for 3 years. When the position for Wilge Special Day Care Centre's principal became vacant, I felt inspired to rekindle my interest in working with children. Since I started at Wilge during November, I never looked back! My dream for Wilge is to play a vibrant role in inspiring the staff and parents to be sincerely involved with the complex process to develop and empower our children to believe in their own abilities and live their dreams.
	RENE HOMANN Rene Homann completed her Bachelor of Diaconiology degree in 2008 at Unisa. She specializes in Community Development. During her studies Rene received a special award as Community Development Student Of The Year, for her positive attitude with regards to the development of people and communities, and her enthusiasm and passion for the career in this field of expertise. Before joining Orion during March 2010, Rene gained experience working in the Atlantis community as a Community Developer. At Orion, Rene's main focus areas will be assisting the Social Worker with the organisation's Community Development Programmes, as well as managing the Human Capital Development portfolio.
	ADMINISTRATIVE CLERKS: ELZENE THYSSEN & LECRETIA BOKS (from L to R) ELZENE THYSSEN & LECRETIA BOKS, who joined the Central Admin team during February 2010. Elzene completed her Mangement Assistant training course at West Coast College during 2007. Prior to joining the Orion Admin Team, she was a personal assistant to a medical practitioner. Lecretia completed her diploma in Accounts Administration at CAD Training Centre and will support our financial manager with the daunting task of keeping Orion's finances in a tip-top state.
	MEET OUR MEDIA EXPERTS The Mostly Media team, Philip Claasen and Fanie Heyns, joined Orion some two years ago when we were in serious need of vibrant, professional and creative assistance with marketing and branding the Organisation. Mostly Media is a successful and cost-efficient media/PR and advertising agency based in Cape Town. Formed in 1996 the company is service- and outcome orientated on behalf of its clients.  The company has delivered its professional services to organisations such as Old Mutual, Media24, Nedbank and many more. For more information on Mostly Media's media and marketing services, please visit their website: www.mostlymedia.co.za. Mostly Media comes with years of experience, is well-connected and it a privilege to be in partnership with them.