The scourge of gender-based violence in South Africa is something that we need to fight as a collective, which is why we’ve decided to highlight these incredible causes to give back to this Mandela Day.
1. #1000gbvportraits
Activist and designer, Aysha Lagardien is #1000gbvportraits warrior 17. For her birthday she’s using her platform to raise awareness on the #1000gbvportraits fundraising drive by Asic Media. She is calling for donations of just R50 (at the minimum) to fund the Warrior Awareness events, GBV awareness shoots, funding the InsideOut NPO healing circles, self-defence classes by Viper, Spoil gift boxes and GBV awareness t-shirts.
Image credit: @asicmedia (Facebook)
2. Home from Home
Spend some time volunteering at family-style foster care, Home from Home. They cater to the needs of orphaned, abused, neglected and vulnerable children. With 36 homes in the Western Cape, Home from Home serves 200 children. While Home from Home provides a temporary home to displaced kids, the goal is to reunite them with their biological family or adoptive parent/s through their reunification programme.
Home from Home also offers an education programme, through their education pillar, that includes access to preschool, uniforms and stationery and scholar transport, tutoring, English reading and extramural activities. Their remaining pillars include therapeutic intervention and transitional support for foster children that inevitably have to leave their care between the ages of 18 and 21.
You can volunteer with Home from Home by emailing info@homefromhome.org.za to discuss volunteer opportunities or you can make a monetary donation. Here are other ways to get involved with Home from Home.
3. Epic Foundation
Founded by Alta McMaster, a survivor of gender-based violence herself, McMaster through Epic Foundation sources donations to put together comfort packs that include everyday toiletries and underwear.
These packages are a necessity as once the statement is taken and the medical examination is completed, the survivor is given the opportunity to clean up. Everything needed for this process is included in the comfort pack. Clothing that may contain DNA will be kept as evidence, which is why clean underwear is essential. These packs are delivered to various victim empowerment centres and rape-trauma centres, in an effort to maintain dignity, a feeling that survivors are often challenged with.
The project is aimed at survivors of GBV, survivors of human trafficking, women and children arriving at shelters, and children preparing for court days. You can volunteer your time. Simply contact Epic Foundation for more info.
Or you can donate some of the items for the comfort packs. Here is a full list of items required, or you can make a donation directly to Epic Foundation.
Image credit: @theepicfoundation (Facebook)
Where will you be spending your time this Mandela Day?
Compiled by Marian Volkwyn
