Sustaining a safe haven for women of abuse
Nobesethu Javu is a source of inspiration for many who know her.
POLOKWANE – Nobesethu is the founder of Ekuphumleni Restoration Home, also known as ThyRest, a non-profit organisation that takes in women who have suffered sexual abuse. Ekuphumleni is a Xhosa word which means ‘place of rest’ which is where the name ThyRest derives from.
Nobesethu, affectionately known as Nobz, is from the Eastern Cape in Bhisho and she came to Polokwane for work. She currently juggles working for the Department of Treasury and running ThyRest.
ThyRest is a restoration home which shelters survivors of rape, incest, human trafficking and women exiting sex work. It was launched in April 2015 and Nobesethu, who has a background in finance, feels passionately about helping sexual abuse victims become survivors she took it upon herself to enrol for a psychology degree to be better equipped to help the young women who come to ThyRest. She is currently in her third year at Unisa.
Nobesethu purchased a house in Seshego with the sole purpose of turning it into a home for young women in need of help. ThyRest has been funded by the National Lottery Commission of South Africa and has recently had an electric fence donated by Old Mutual to keep the young women housed there safe. ThyRest is a three-bedroom house which can accommodate eight women at a time and they had their first intake last year, being either walk-ins or referrals. Women who come in as referrals are usually referred to ThyRest by the police and other NPOs. Walk-ins have to go through a strict screening process to ensure safety and privacy is maintained at the centre.
Some of the challenges Nobesethu faces are that some of the women who come to ThyRest have drug addictions and Nobesethu dreams to have a rehabilitation centre incorporated to help them. She is also in the process of extending the house to accommodate more women.
ThyRest has worked with different stakeholders like the Office of the Premier, Department of Social Development and the police. Nobesethu also works closely with sex workers and the LGBTI community to assist wherever she can.
“We have outreaches where we give toiletries to sex workers to remind them someone cares and sees them as more than their profession,” she said.
Nobesethu describes the work she does as a calling. She is a rape survivor herself and it has propelled her to want to help other women going through what she went through.
Her long-term goal is to focus solely on ThyRest to make a difference on a larger scale. Anyone in need of assistance can contact ThyRest at www.thyrest.org.za or info@thyrest.org.za or (015) 223 0091.
