Urgent appeal for donations to open safehouse for child victims
A Lavender Hill NPO needs the support of the public to donate towards the opening of an emergency safehouse for child victims of sexual violence and child abuse.
Philisa Abafazi Bethu Family Centre founder, Lucinda Evans, said they are working against a tight deadline to open the centre in just under a month ahead of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence. Evans said the funds are needed to upgrade security at the premises and urgent renovations to the kitchen and bathroom.
“I don’t like making our community vulnerable for services that they should have access to. The monetary donations needed will go towards the security upgrades at the property for which I am leasing currently,” said Evans.
The emergency safehouse will cater to the needs of children aged 0 to 18 years.
The facility will offer shelter, counselling and legal support.
“For five years I have been running this type of ad hoc service from my house. When children need a safe space having faced abusive situations where they live, the authorities in our area will bring a child to my home and from there we get a social worker to assist. The service is needed 24/7 and we need to make the space available for them where they can be housed for a minimum of three days and maximum five days before a social worker finds them a suitable alternative. We do not provide foster and adoptive care,” said Evans.
“We need safety upgrades by raising a wall, fixing the bathroom and kitchen. We are making a call for support that we need the funds as a priority to fix up the space. The funding we need will also go toward a social worker office and staff.
“We need to protect our children and we believe this is an attainable goal. Protection of children... is needed 24/7 and 366 days a year,” said Evans.
To donate, visit https:// philisaabafazi.org/donate/
Cape Times