An event focusing on gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) awareness and the Women Economic Empowerment Programme (WEEP) was recently held at the Maviljan Community Hall in Bushbuckridge Local Municipality.

The event was hosted by the Ehlanzeni District Municipality (EDM) in partnership with Bushbuckridge Local Municipality (BLM) and The Lucia O Foundation’s Glow Up! Make a Difference initiative.

The aim of this community engagement was to empower women through economic capacity building, while raising awareness of GBVF across the district.

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WEEP promotes dialogue, expands access to empowerment opportunities and strengthens collaboration between government, civil society and the private sector to address socio-economic challenges faced by women.

Young women in business and aspiring entrepreneurs identified as participants by the BLM attended the session.

“Empowering women economically is a key step towards breaking the cycle of vulnerability and dependency that contributes to GBVF,” said Lucia Simelane-Ochan of the Lucia O Foundation, expressing her organisation’s commitment to the initiative.

The EDM’s senior manager for social services, Jabu Malepe, extended gratitude to all partners who contributed to the event’s success. She highlighted the spirit of co-operative governance and the importance of public-private partnerships in achieving economic empowerment goals.

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“The partnership between EDM and the Lucia O Foundation demonstrates a shared commitment to empowering women and addressing GBVF,” said Malepe.

“The district municipality appreciates organisations like the Lucia O Foundation, that passionately assist communities in need. Together, we can create a brighter future for women and girls in Ehlanzeni.”