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Organisation for Appropriate Social Services in South Africa
The Organisation for Appropriate Social Services South Africa (OASSSA) is a progressive, anti-apartheid, and community orientated organisation. It consists of social service workers, mental healthcare professionals, and other experts related to the relevant field. The organisation is dedicated to an open, integrated and democratic South Africa. OASSSA emphasises the impact of apartheid and aims to assist those affected. Additionally, it develops appropriate designs to provide accessible mental healthcare for all South African citizens.

Background and History
The historical conditions of apartheid in South Africa can be characterised in terms of structural and economic injustices. The rise of organisations emerged after the Soweto uprising in 1976. OASSSA focuses on the link between apartheid and the impact thereof on mental health.

OASSSA was established in 1983 as a response to conditions of social and economic oppression and the influence it has on wellbeing. The first OASSSA branch was founded in 1983 in the previously known Transvaal area. It originated as a response to the conditions of the lack of mental health support during apartheid. Its’ main concern relates to the impact of apartheid and subsequently the inadequate mental health service delivery that was available under conditions of oppression. Further branches were established in the Western Cape in 1985, in Durban during 1986, as well as Pietermaritzburg in 1987.

It contributes to the field of psychology in multiple ways. The main objectives include providing counselling in communities for victims of apartheid violence, training of lay counsellors and educators, and increased research in communities to promote skills particular beneficial skills.

Aims and Objectives
The primary aim of OASSSA is to redistribute and extend access to primary healthcare services, while also aiming to improve immediate social services to individuals in vulnerable populations.

Further objectives of OASSSA include:


 * Involving experts in the field of social services who are interested in working toward accessible and appropriate social service delivery.


 * Expanding knowledge about personal and social causes of problems.
 * Providing services and support as an organisation.
 * Allowing a platform that enables discussion sociopolitical circumstances and unequal service delivery.
 * Sharing information and skills through different forms such as workshops, literature, conferences, and establishing resource centres in communities.
 * Developing methods that enable appropriate social service support and assistance with implementation.

Significant contributions
OASSSA is involved in communities on multiple levels:


 * Detainee counselling is a service for released detainees that allows them the opportunity to meet with medical and mental healthcare professionals.
 * OASSSA explores the sociopolitical and economical circumstances of South Africa, and the effects on mental health.
 * Members train key individuals from the community to enable them to apply counselling skills.
 * The media and education group of OASSSA creates and distributes information through educational programmes and conferences.
 * OASSSA (Tvl) is part of a progressive movement aimed at supporting hunger strikers.