AFTER providing various services to victims of gender-based violence for the past 14 years, from their office in Pellsrus, local non-profit organisation, On Eagles Wings Multi-purpose Centre recently relocated to Jeffreys Street in Jeffreys Bay, to reach a wider range of people.
On Eagles Wings Multi-purpose Centre was established by Pastor Mercy Cwayi to help victims of violent crimes such as domestic violence, abuse and rape, by offering counselling services and shelter services.
Cwayi said, with help from one full time social worker and multiple volunteers, the organisation provides counselling, enrichment, and empowerment programmes to make a difference in the lives of people living in Jeffreys Bay and throughout the Kouga and Kou-Kamma regions.
In addition, the centre fulfills preventative programmes in educating and empowering victims by targeting youth, children and women through social and skills development.
Furthermore, the organisation provides individual and family therapy, various forms of counselling for substance abuse, post-divorce, bereavement, trauma de–briefing, HIV/Aids, post COVID-19 and premarital counselling.
“The response to our organisation in the community has been incredibly good.
“We have received so much acceptance, love and support since we began offering our services to people in the region, 14 years ago,” said Cwayi.
“Our services have expanded beyond Jeffreys Bay and we have been able to help people from Gamtoos Valley, Kou-Kamma and we recently had people travelling from as far as George to access our services.”
In a bid to expand their services to help more people, earlier this month the organisation, which was previously located in Pellsrus, relocated to Aspen Building, Shop number 9 in Jeffreys Street.
“The move to Jeffreys Street will enable us to be of service to more residents in Kouga who might benefit from our counselling services,” said Cwayi.
Since the organisation relocated, they have continued offering counselling services and shelter services to their clients and they plan to continue implementing their youth programme at their centre and at various schools.
During these outreach programmes, the organisation plans to educate young people about issues of gender-based violence, gender equality, patriarchy, teenage pregnancy and substance abuse, among other topics.
With donations of sanitary towels from SPAR Eastern Cape, the organisation also plans to continue their sanitary towel distribution and provide various workshops to young girls, to educate them about the importance of hygiene, menstruation, and sexually transmitted infections.
In the future, the organisation hopes to create an environment that enables the various communities to develop themselves through their services and support together with other stakeholders.
“The space that we seek to create will be a harbour where communities will access information to better themselves socially and economically,” said Cwayi.
“This will be a safe space for all vulnerable groups, such as women, children, the elderly and people living with disabilities.”
To further deal with issues related to gender-based violence, the organisation also seeks to encourage men and young boys to be a part of the solutions in addressing gender-based violence, by developing fatherhood strategies, boys’ mentoring clubs and positive parenting workshops.
- For more information or for appointments contact Pastor Mercy Cwayi on 072 692 8392 or 042 293 3985, from Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 16:00.
