The Sunrise campaign will showcase local entrepreneurs who are also gender-based violence and femicide survivors at Xunkhwesa Combined School in Platfontein on December 4. This initiative forms part of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children.
THE SUNRISE campaign will showcase local entrepreneurs who are also gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) survivors at Xunkhwesa Combined School in Platfontein on December 4. This initiative forms part of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children.
The senior manager for Gender Links South Africa, Naledi Masipa, said the exhibition of their wares and services, which will also be displayed at the Royal Place at the Diamond Oval in Kimberley on December 5, would serve to celebrate the successes of these business owners who had overcome personal hardships.
She explained that the Sunrise campaign, led by the non-profit organisation Gender Links, piloted a programme to empower women through economic upliftment.
“A total of 20 GBVF survivors from Platfontein and another 20 from Kimberley and Ritchie were offered training during July and September. The entrepreneurs received R20,000 each from the Irene M Staehelin Foundation to enable them to start their own businesses. Local mentors were also identified to offer support and training. All interactions will be recorded through a virtual system,” said Masipa.
She added that Sol Plaatje Municipality had signed a pledge to also empower and support women through its local economic development plans.
She stated that women were less vulnerable to remaining trapped in abusive relationships if they had access to economic freedom.
Masipa explained that the three-year programme offered life skills, entrepreneurship training, business management, confidence building, information technology, networking and addressing gender inequalities.
