The City’s Community, Arts and Culture Development Department, located within the Community Services and Health Directorate, has empowered more than 202 women this financial year through its annual Women with Purpose Programme.

Low-income households

Previously known as Women for Change, it has empowered women from low-income households with knowledge, skills, confidence and networks needed to become leaders, role models and active agents of positive change in their families and communities. Importantly the programme forms part of the City’s broader whole-of-society approach to addressing the root cause of crime, gangsterism and gender-based violence (GBV).

By investing in women as community leaders the City is strengthening social cohesion, promoting positive role models and building resilience at a household and community level. Through a combination of training and work exposure participants are supported in their personal development while also contributing meaningfully within their communities.

The programme aims to create pathways for themselves to access ongoing support, networks and opportunities for growth, ultimately enabling long-term social and economic impact. “[It] is about building stronger communities from within,” said Francine Higham, Mayco member for Community Services and Health. “When women are supported, they step into leadership roles, support their families and help create safer neighbourhoods. I encourage more women to apply and be part of this opportunity.”

Strategy

As part of the programme’s work strategy the women are placed at various sites for the duration of their contracts, which range from three to six months, while completing their training. Placements during this financial year included the Identikidz Programme during the 2025-’26 festive season, various Recreation and Parks facilities, libraries, clinics, Early Childhood Development Centres, NGOs and other City of Cape Town offices. The women were taken through a range of training: leadership, first aid, financial management, digital literacy, peace building and conflict resolution, customer protection rights, trauma healing and psycho-social training, community dialogue, gender and GBV awareness, parenting workshops, job readiness and personal development planning.

This combination of skills equips participants not only for employment opportunities, but also to play an active role in strengthening community networks, supporting vulnerable individuals and promoting safer environments. Since 2017 more than 6 000 women have participated in the programme, which has created thousands of work opportunities across the city. The women, who came from across the city, were chosen from the sub-council jobseekers’ database.

Women interested in the programme can contact communityartsandculturedevelopment@capetown.gov.za. For more information visit the City’s website.

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