Small Projects Foundation, an East London based non-governmental organisation (NGO), recently hosted a gender-based violence (GBV) workshop aimed at empowering women in rural areas about the scourge of GBV, held in Nxarhuni village near Mdantsane township.
A group of women and girls from several villages in Newlands/Nxarhuni area shared their insights and experiences, recounted on how GBV related cases in their communities were handled in the past without any police involvement and no consequences for the perpetrators.
The workshop was coordinated by Small Projects Foundation (SPF) social workers, Sinazo Madlingozi and Sesethu Nontswabu alongside SPF Early Childhood Development (ECD) coordinator Ruth van Kets.
Madlingozi told those in attendance that the workshop was designed to confront critical issues affecting women including gender-based violence, domestic violence and abuse of women and children especially those in rural areas and forster a collaborative dialogue on effective strategies to address these social ills.
A Newlands/Nxarhuni GBV steering committee was formed during the workshop and some of the committee’s responsibilities include reporting GBV related cases to police and providing support to victims.
The newly established committee will serve as a vital link to the SPF GBV referral system for speedy handling of cases.
The practice of ‘ukuthwala’ where young girls enter into forced marriages is still rife in some rural areas in Buffalo City, leading to alarming school dropout rate.
They urged the foundation to assist in the establishment of victim rehabilitation centres, sports and recreation facilities and unemployment workshops aimed at empowering the youth.
Last year the foundation provided training to 5, 500 young people to provide sexual and reproductive health services to their peers in schools and clinics.
It has several empowerment projects tackling social issues including gender-based violence, domestic violence, HIV/Aids, mentorship & leadership, sanitary towels, job training workshops and others.
