Shelter
Since 1 December 2003, women and children in need of help can finally move into the women's shelter. After five years of work, the official opening was on 2 April 2004.
Leka Gape workers climbed bureaucratic obstacles and worked with hand on projects at the constructions since June 2003.
The shelter is one of the most important projects of social work at Leka Gape. Abused women, homeless children and youth can find a save haven and support here. Help for raped and abused women is needed urgently.
In spite of the "Domestic Violence Act" - a law that makes it legal to exile violent men from the nearer environment of their wives - many women do not take the plunge to come to a relief organization with their problems and miseries.
They are afraid. Afraid of being stamped, afraid of a future in own hands, off traditional respective roles, afraid of the consequences of their step - and above all they are afraid of their partners. Husbands, whose wives are "taken away" from them in their eyes, react with persecution and more violence.
If it comes to extremes they kill their wives - often with the "excuse", that she had a lover. The support and welfare for street children, who often already had to suffer violence, and who experience attention and social care in the shelter for the first time is as important as the protection of these women against their husbands.
The house, saved by a high fence, offers accommodation for 48 people. A social worker, two housemothers for the children and youth, as well as volunteer workers take care of them. An own security man ensures the safety of the occupants. But immediate help is not enough.
The inhabitants need long-term future perspectives, they must be able to live on their own and be responsible for themselves after leaving the shelter. For this reason the staff develops future plans for the concerned persons.
They search for foster-parents for orphans, they help to find a flat and work for the adults. The workers endeavor to help the women and children to digest their traumatic experiences and to let them enjoy life again by offering many leisure time activities. Another focal point of work is educational programs, which help to find individual strengths and support them and open new perspectives.
Furthermore Leka Gape is providing awareness work together with the partner organization Love Life. In close cooperation with other organizations, the women are informed about their rights and possibilities and campaigns about the dangers of HIV/Aids and drug addiction is initiated.
Until now, Leka Gape was supported by the German Ministry for International Cooperation and Development, the Weltfriedensdienst (World Peace Service) and the Initiative Südafrika (Initiative South Africa), the rest was raised by the organization itself. But the support and safety of the women and children is not available for nothing.
The employees have to be paid, the house has to be kept in good condition, and the inhabitants need an ensured livelihood.
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