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A SIMPLE ACT TO EMPOWER VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
According to our national calendar, the month of August is dedicated to appreciating the woman in our lives. When considering our statistics of gender-based violence, it seems we find ourselves in a state of emergency rather than a state of celebration. On average, 110 South African women are raped and 56 murdered on a daily basis. Femicide is a social ill that plagues our country; our body count isn’t a far cry from the fatalities war torn countries experience. This year, online retailer Faithful to Nature is partnering with Mosaic, a community-based organisation that combats domestic violence. For the month of August, a portion of the sales on all women’s products will be donated to the organisation to help raise R100,000 for the much-needed renovations of the survivor safe space in Wynberg, Cape Town.
Not only are we donating money raised to help with the renovation of the much-needed survivor centre in Wynberg, but we will also have an easy click-through tab on our website to the MOSAIC’s Facebook Page for Faithful customers who may immediate assistance.” says Dr Kerry Haarhoff, community manager of Faithful to Nature.
While there are various shelters and domestic abuse hotlines dedicated to servicing the dire need for help, victims can become lost in the chasm of casualties because asylum centres are overwhelmed, poorly staffed or terribly funded. Women and children’s lives literally depend on the interventions of organizations such as MOSAIC. Not only do Tarisai Mchuchu-MacMillan, Executive Director of MOSAIC, and her team offer high response services, they support victims through healing too.“MOSAIC exists to empower survivors of domestic violence and abuse by ensuring that they become positive, and active drivers of change in their own lives,” Tarisai shares.
Personal development enables vulnerable women and children to recognise that they shouldn’t feel forced to return to violent spaces; they are liberated to explore other options.
Established in 1993, the NPO has focussed its efforts on tackling the nature of abuse. Founder, Rolene Miller, noticed that many victims were suffering in silence. Whether out of shame, or fear of consequence, too many women were internalising their trauma. MOSAIC has been dedicating their efforts and resources to piecing ‘broken’ women back together ever since.
Learning and unlearning behaviours is an imperative aspect of the healing process. Tarisai explains that, “MOSAIC strives to change attitudes about gender norms, creating a culture in which women and girls are respected as full human beings.”
Wouldn’t it be great to see a generation of girls raised without the threat of violence or sexual assault? “MOSAIC aims to provide services that will improve the way the survivor sees themselves, how they relate to others, and how they see their future,” Tarisai says. This goal is within our reach if we commit to financially supporting organizations such as MOSAIC, as well as doing our own part to ensure that the nature of abuse ends.
MOSAIC’s team of social workers and community workers have helped over 100 000 women in distress over the past 25 years. The community workers share with their abused clients, similar backgrounds, stories and language and the training provided by MOSAIC to change their lives for the better. They work tirelessly to provide high quality, integrated services for these survivors of abuse and domestic violence.
Dr Haarhoff concludes “COVID-19 has touched all of our lives in South Africa, but we must be mindful that facing the greatest risk are the most vulnerable, including women experiencing abuse. We know that fighting for equality and supporting those less fortunate than us shouldn’t be limited to once a year, but it’s a good place to start and a useful reminder to everyone that the fight is not yet won. If you have been thinking about supporting issues pertaining to violence against women, Faithful to Nature has made it easy for you to make a meaningful contribution in the simplest way.”
Visit www.faithtonature.co.za for more information, the MOSAIC campaign runs from 1 – 31 September 2020.
About Faithful to Nature:
Faithful to Nature was started in 2007 by Robyn Smith. This top online organic and natural store carries over 9000 individual products that are couriered to every corner of the country. It is one of the first companies in the world to have created a strict ingredient policy that cuts across any “green-washing” to ensure the non-toxicity of every product stocked. This has created a valued “worry-free” zone for all shoppers. The business has enjoyed consistently strong growth over the past few years and exceptionally high retention rates (sitting at over 70%) for all customers.
Catering to consumer needs across a broad variety of categories from food, beauty, health, lifestyle, gardening, pets, wine, gifts and kids the e-commerce business has solutions for a diverse group of customers. The business continues to grow beyond retail, with a wholesale division and own-label portfolio.
bout Mosaic
MOSAIC Training Services and Healing Centre for Women was established in 1993 as non-governmental organization in response to violence against women, domestic violence, sexual violence and lack of access to sexual reproductive health rights services and rights education. MOSAIC is a community based, NGO with a specific focus on preventing and reducing abuse and domestic violence, particularly for women and girls living in disadvantaged communities. MOSAIC is unique in that it was the first organisation in the Western Cape to start working with domestic violence complainants directly at the Courts in 1999. MOSAIC Court Workers were trained and work in 16 Domestic Violence Courts in the Cape Metropole and surrounding rural towns, in the Johannesburg and Pretoria Domestic Violence Courts and our Court support model is implemented in partnerships in the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal.
MOSAIC is integrally involved in community affairs, and our networking relationships expand continuously. Our head office in Wynberg also houses a Skills Training kitchen and a Training Centre. MOSAIC has numerous outreach centres across the Western Cape. These include Mitchells Plain, Khayelitsha, Site B, Harare, and Philippi. MOSAIC reaches more than 100,000 people each year through these offices.