Cyril Ramaphosa’s address, 13 May 2020: “There have been very disturbing reports of increased levels of gender-based violence since the lockdown started. The scourge of gender-based violence continues to stalk our country as the men of our country declared war on the women. We have developed an emergency pathway for survivors to ensure that the victims of gender-based violence are assisted. One of the interventions we have made is to ensure lockdown regulations regulations be structed in a manner that a woman can leave her home to report abuse without the fear of a fine, intimidation or further violence.”
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Penny Appeal South Africa partnered with Ihata Shelter for Abused Women and Children in Cape Town at the end of 2019 to launch a national toll-free helpline for victims of gender-based violence and sexual abuse and this initiative has spurred on a more long-term partnership between the two non-profit organisations.
At the forefront of Penny Appeal South Africa’s projects, is the commitment to advocating for a safer society for vulnerable groups in South Africa. Having shared similar visions of safe-guarding women and children, Penny Appeal’s collaboration and support to Ihata will ensure the sustainability of the shelter.
CEO of Penny Appeal South Africa, Shahnaaz Paruk has placed her full support behind this initiative: “As a partners to Ihata, we acknowledged the need for more sustainable action and we hope that our initiatives will provide for greater intervention and action in making our country safer for vulnerable groups”.
Penny Appeal’s funding agenda will contribute towards essential services provided by Ihata including:
- 90-Day Programme – Facilitated by a core team of social workers, the programme includes educational workshops, skills training and community re-integration;
- Youth Development – Initiative aimed at empowering and uplifting youth through boot camps, leadership training workshops and community involvement;
- Prison Outreach – Sisters Sitting Sentences Programme to work with women who have committed petty and serious crimes in the form of workshops, group sessions and reintroducing them to basic life skills.
- Skills Development – Empowering women to create healthy lives for themselves once they leave the shelter including sewing classes, gardening, cooking, child care and computer classes.
- Community Outreach – Monthly feeding scheme to vulnerable communities around Cape Town;
- Early Childhood Development (ECD) & aftercare programme – Offer on-site child care programme to care for the children of the shelter’s residents as well as of the neighbouring community.
“Our support to Ihata means that we can help more families who are facing critical situations,” adds Paruk. “It is only with the collaborative efforts of like-minded individuals that we can bring about positive change.”
Individuals and corporations who wish to contribute towards the initiative, can email [email protected] for more information.
About Penny Appeal South Africa
The Penny Appeal way of doing charity is simple – they take small change and make a BIG difference with it. Penny Appeal is a relief and development non-profit organisation providing aid to communities in need, while advocating and addressing the needs of marginalised groups. Penny Appeal provides support to vulnerable communities by sponsoring orphans, building orphanages, providing access to clean water, ensuring that community have an opportunity to transform themselves out of poverty (e.g. feeding schemes, food sustainability programmes).
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