CHULUMANCO MAHAMBA
Fifty-five gender-based violence survivors have completed training on various skills through an initiative to empower them to end the silence around domestic violence.
The survivors completed their training through the #EndDomesticSilence initiative, run by tea brand Joko, in partnership with People Opposing Women Abuse (Powa).
The initiative, which started in 2019, aims to end the silence around domestic violence by providing survivors with skills to empower them to generate an income, making them more likely to speak out and report abuse and become less financially dependent on their abusers.
“Having skills assists them to break the cycle of abuse, grow their confidence, unleash their potential and develop hope in the future,” said Thandiwe McCloy, Powa’s communications manager.
Through the initiative, GBV survivors are gaining knowledge on doing make-up, wig-making, nail care and eyelash extension, learning to drive and attaining sewing, baking, computer and HIV lay counselling skills. The beneficiaries of the programme are abused women who’ve received counselling at Powa offices and at various NGOs that Powa has partnered with.
The #EndDomesticSilence initiative also includes training survivors on numerous aspects of domestic violence and hosting healing days where GBV survivors share their experiences of abuse and how they rose above them, the organisations said.
One survivor, Buyi Mgcelwane, 51, who received counselling from Ubuhle Bobunye Bomanyano, based in Daveyton, was trained on baking skills, together with five other women.
“I’m unemployed and support myself by selling cakes, snowballs and cinnamon rolls… This programme has taught me to make bread and biscuits, which will help me earn more money because most people eat bread every day. I want to become a baking facilitator and share my knowledge with other women and also open a bakery, but I need to raise money for an oven,” Mgcelwane said.
In addition to counselling GBV survivors, Ubuhle Bobunye Bomanyano focuses on running skills development programmes for women and youth.
“The baking course will assist survivors to support themselves through enabling them to sell baked goods. The certificates they’ll earn will assist them to become catering and baking facilitators and to access funding if they choose to open bakeries,” said Penny Ndhlovu, the president of the organisation.
Kholofelo Duma, the owner of KD Royalty, who provided the beauty skills training in Soweto, said she liked making a difference in the lives of the survivors
“My training will not only assist them to earn an income but will also motivate them to focus on where they’re going and not where they’re from,” Duma said.
Powa and Joko added that the second group, made up of 47 survivors, recently started their training.
“There are 100 more survivors countrywide who will be empowered by gaining skills through the initiative,” the organisation said.
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