Xtreme Freedom

One of the many interests close to the heart of Douw Merwe Viljoen is the altruistic Christian organisation that goes by the name of Xtreme Freedom. Xtreme Freedom’s mission is in the prevention of drug abuse and the rehabilitation of addicts. The organization accomplishes this by actively getting others involved and by launching drug prevention programs, establishing treatment and aftercare centres, and by recruiting, training and employing people to man those centres. Xtreme Freedom was the brainchild of Ado Krige, who started working actively against drugs in 1984 and started the first South African anti-drug youth disco in 1987.

Merwe became involved with Xtreme Freedom in 2004 when he offered financial assistance to the organisation. He has introduced to the organisation several prominent businessmen and medical physicians who now take an active part in its administration. Today Merwe is the organisation’s official auditor. With his help Xtreme Freedom plans to establish by 2017 a country-wide network of treatment, training and aftercare centres. In the short term the organisation is raising funds for the building of a regeneration treatment center at their present home base, a detox facility and a counselor training center in Derdepoort. 

Xtreme Freedom is eager to attract partners from the corporate world and from government departments, churches and schools. The organisation’s founder, Ado, is himself a rehabilitated addict and supplier, and spends much of his time speaking about drug abuse to schools and promoting his campaign.