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A chance encounter in 2002 led Fathima Khan down a career path as a social worker which has become so much more than a job to her.

In 2002 Mrs Khan was living in Pietermaritzburg and unsure of what she wanted to study.
At the time her neighbour was a social worker who invited her along to a woman’s support group and it was there that she realised her calling.

Mrs Khan then studied a Social Auxiliary Course, earning two distinctions in 18 months. After working at the Pietermaritzburg Mental Health Society, Mrs Khan enrolled with Unisa to study Social Work and it was from there that she truly began to make a difference in the lives of others.

Mrs Khan went on to work for the Madadeni Rehab Centre for 10 years before moving to the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SANCA) for 13 years.

She then worked at the City of Refuge, a rehab centre in Newcastle and now owns her own private practice in Dannhauser.

“If I didn’t go to that first workshop, I wouldn’t be in the field today.”
As the owner of Khan’s Intellectual Social Services, she deals with numerous issues including family counselling, divorce, HIV/AIDS counselling, Substance

Abuse and more. She also runs a soup kitchen every Thursday from her office, feeding up to 75 needy people.

“The biggest challenge though is getting them to accept that they’re wrong and that they need help. A strong family support system is also vital,” she added.
Mrs Khan also added that many people no longer speak about their problems openly anymore. With the rise of social media, many people endure ridicule and bullying when trying to speak out and so choose to suffer in silence.

“We don’t always realise how many issues people are dealing with on a daily basis and how those issues are affecting them. All bad situations have underlying problems.”

She was also privileged to attend the NACADA-ISSUP International conference on drug demand reduction in Kenya last year.
The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) teamed with the International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP) and other stakeholders to host an event to provide a platform for stakeholders to share their experiences in addressing the challenges of alcohol and drug abuse.

With over 16 years of helping make a difference in the lives of others countrywide, Mrs Khan is glad to be able to help the people in her hometown.
“In a small town, it’s easy to see the difference you make. You interact with them in the community almost daily and are able to see when they’re struggling or coping with things.”

With years of experience behind her and a bright future ahead, Mrs Khan is hoping to make a difference in the lives of many more people to come.

If you would like to contact Mrs Khan, she can be reached on 082 783 9277.