Safe house plan enters the fast lane
It is hoped that 1 600 businesses or individuals will support the much-needed fundraising initiative, which aims to provide safety to those affected by gender-based violence.
The Rise Up Movement’s MY600 campaign was recently launched with the hope of speeding up fundraising for the establishment of a safe house for gender-based violence (GBV) victims.
The launch was hosted by Sasol Salt Rock last Friday where a total pledge of R42 000 was raised.
Movement founder Josha Daniel said the goal was to get at least 1 600 businesses or individuals to support the initiative with donations of R600.
“The highlight of today’s fundraiser was the ‘call out challenge’ where our local security companies did not disappoint. A surprising twist was our partners in crime prevention Ballito Neighbourhood Watch and Salt Rock Neighbourhood Watch pledging and challenging each other,” said Daniel.
He said getting the safe house project underway was a matter of urgency as GBV cases were growing by the day.
Between January and February he had at least eight people who needed a safe house.
They had to be booked into local accommodation and some were taken in for a night or two by kind residents who had opened up their homes for them.
Depending on funds available, he is considering two options – erecting a container home at a cost of about R900 000 or building a proper house with furniture, for about R1.5-million.
“The biggest problem at the moment is that much of the amount we had already raised ends up being used to pay for accommodation for victims. We had about R80 000 but are now down to R50 000.”
“As much as we do not want to use the funds raised, we are forced to because some of these women really have no one to go to and we are their last hope.”
He said they had to stop some of their programmes such as food hampers, toiletries and bread distribution to focus on the safe house project.
Daniel said they recently had to move a 29-year-old mother and her three-month-old baby away from Ballito because there was no one to help her locally.
Another case involves a 24-year-old Nkobongo woman who was assaulted and raped by her boyfriend, allegedly a drug dealer.
“These are some of the cases from a long list. All these women could be accommodated at a safe house which will not be far from their homes, yet will be the safest,” said Daniel.
The safe house will also help with skills training, which will help victims gain employment or start their own business.
The house will also have a 24-hour rape centre on site.
For more information, you can contact Daniel at 068 024 7568 or info@riseupmovement.org.za.
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