App for rape survivors in Diepsloot closes down
DIEPSLOOT – An App which sought to assist rape survivors with counselling and temporary shelter has closed its doors due to a lack of funding.
A cell phone App that helped many survivors of gender-based violence living in Diepsloot to access police, counselling and temporary shelter is closing down on 31 July due to a lack of funding.
The Vimba! helpline assisted hundreds of people to access help by dialing a number from a cell phone. The App was launched as part of a data journalism project of the Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism at the Mail and Guardian.
The App was launched in partnership with the Diepsloot rape counselling centre, The Green Door, Sonke Gender Justice, Lawyers Against Abuse (LvA), Afrika Tikkun and the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag).
Vimba! provided information via SMS about where to access rape counselling services and support in Diepsloot to over 2 000 callers since December 2016.
Bhekisisa editor Mia Malan said, “We’re sad to see Vimba! come to an end, but we’re proud that Bhekisisa had the opportunity to make a difference in Diepsloot. Vimba! was never intended as a project without an end; it was part of a time-bound data journalism project through which we wanted to not only help people access services but also wanted to collect valuable data about when, from which extensions and how people in Diepsloot access counselling services. Organisations addressing gender-based violence will be able to use this information to better target their services.”
The Green Door (078 888 2144), LvA (087 150 7235) and Sadag (080 012 1314) will remain open to support rape survivors in the area.
Bhekisisa is in the process of analysing data and identifying trends. This information will be provided on their website www.vimbadiepsloot.co.za by the end of August.
