The development and implementation of an intervention to reduce Gender Based Violence Perpetrated against young women aged 16-24 in a peri-urban setting in South Africa: A Community Participation Model

Republic of South Africa

Amount: € 150,000.00

Overview

Community participation techniques were developed and implemented by SAMARC (South African Medical Research Council) to reduce gender based violence against young women aged 18-24 in Mbekweni, Cape Town.  Social and community factors driving violence were also explored. 100 young women and 30 young men were recruited for the program, an Anti-Gender Based Violence Training manual was developed, a 14-week training programme was facilitated, and 123 community members participated in 6 Community Action Groups and 3 Action Planning Camps. Major outcomes were the development of 6 Community- and 6 Event-based Action Plans to reduce gender violence in Mbekweni, facilitating a 4-day Self-Esteem Camp for 26 young girls and boys in Mbekweni and the establishment of a Women in a Circle Gender and Development Forum. Evaluation assessments indicated a successful shift in attitudes and perceptions about gender based violence. The projects activities were driven by the strategic objectives of the Beijing Platform for Action, especially those which aim to eliminate violence against women.

Key results

• 30 women from semi-urban areas in Cape Town, South Africa, took part in an Employment Readiness course which focused on industry related soft skills that assisted the beneficiaries to enter the job market. The course included goal setting, understanding work culture, work ethic and time management.
• Subsequently, 22 of the students who attended the course have successfully found employment. Furthermore, 40 unemployed women from poverty-stricken regions of Cape Town, South Africa, were provided with microloans to begin their own entrepreneurial careers after the successful completion of an entrepreneurship course.
• 40 women from peri-urban areas surrounding Cape Town, South Africa, were granted microloans to start businesses in order to start generating an income for themselves and their families. The businesses established from the issue of microloans include, inter alia; day care centres, small restaurants, tuck (spaza) shops, air-time selling points, electricity recharging and other tabletop sale items.