16 Days of Activism kicked off on Monday, 25 November 2013 and Mustadafin Foundation is actively taking part by creating awareness about violence against women and children in the Cape Town community. Various programmes will roll out during this period to help foster positive change on heart breaking social issues that so many women and children face daily.

As part of Mustadafin Foundation’s support for this campaign, they will be hosting an area awareness programme on 02 December 2013 in Khayelitsha and invite community members to attend.

A resilience workshop will take place on 05 December 2013 in Tafelsig in conjunction with Arup Engineering Firm. Arup researches resilience in communities where trauma is rife and the workshop will focus on coping mechanisms used by women in impoverished communities who have to face crime, trauma and stress on a daily basis.

Mustadafin Foundation is also partnering with the SAPS and the Safer Schools Project to host a Child Safety programme at Manandi beach on 09 December 2013 where 300 children, aged 8 to 14 years, will attend. These learners will not only have a fun day out in the sun, but they will also be trained on how to stay safe over the holiday season, how to report concerns and how to look out for one another, as many kids will be alone at home for a few weeks before their parents start their holiday.

10 December 2013 marks the final day of 16 Days of Activism with a community dinner in Tafelsig. During the dinner the women who have graduated from Mustadafin Foundation’s Stop Abuse Stitch by Stitch Sewing Project will be acknowledged and red balloons will be released as a symbol to stop violence in our communities. The dinner will also be attended by the Tafelsig community, The Pink Ladies (a community group that’s involved in raising awareness and searching for missing children in the area), and SAPS Crime Forum members. A beautiful candle lighting and prayer will close-off the evening.

“It’s very important that the community we operate in has a clear understanding of what to do when violence occurs in their family. We trust that the programmes being rolled out will help these women and children should they ever be in such a situation,” comments Hani du Toit, Projects and Communication Manager at Mustadafin Foundation.

Anyone interested in making the Child Safety programme extra special for the children at Manandi Beach on 09 December 2013 can donate toys and gifts. For further information please contact Mustadafin Foundation on 021-633-0010.

For more information about Mustadafin Foundation visit www.mustadafin.org.za. Join their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MustadafinFoundation

ABOUT MUSTADAFIN FOUNDATION

The Mustadafin Foundation was established in 1986 as a result of political unrest and violence in the Crossroads Township. Crossroads, at that time was isolated and violence that erupted was due to faction fighting. It had a devastating effect on the local community, particularly women and children.

In order to support the community, a group of professionals offered their expertise, skills and resources. They provided medical care, trauma counselling, accommodation, food and clothing. This group encompassed such a wide range of people working constructively towards a common goal that it was decided to formalise the situation in the hope that this initiative could be maintained – this saw the birth of the Mustadafin Foundation.