The cold, hard reality …
Globally, 30% of women have experienced gender-based violence.
In South Africa, although most incidents of GBV go unreported, it is plain that violence of this sort is extremely prevalent. The number of people human-trafficked in South Africa more than doubled in 2021/22. The country is a significant source, transit route, and destination for people being trafficked.
Shining a light
The Red Light Programme specifically cares for human-trafficking survivors through various integrated responses to these vulnerable beneficiaries.
What are we fighting for?
“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the broken-hearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.” (Isaiah 61:1)
Sustainable Development Goals
National Development Plan
This plan envisions a South Africa where everyone feels free yet bounded to others; where everyone embraces their full potential, a country where opportunity is determined not by birth, but by ability, education and hard work.
All women need to be safe
Restore
The in-patient programme provides a safe ‘home’ for survivors. Most caught in substance addiction enrol in Project Exodus’ Rehabilitation Programme. The out-patient programme allows survivors to continue their recovery process in the familiarity of their own communities.
“Othandweni” (”Place of Love”) is the programme’s safe house where staff with specialised training in recovery processes, the running of vulnerable women shelters and various gender-based violence issues, work together with independent social workers and therapy teams.
Release
Most of the beneficiaries have never known any other form of earning an income except plying their trade on the streets, they are prepared to move into productive secure futures through career guidance and skills training. Family-reunification is a crucial focus of the programme as relationships are often broken when a woman has been drawn into the sex trade.
2023 Reflection
The programme addresses the lack of comprehensive aftercare services for GBV survivors of human-trafficking. It continued to establish ‘Othandweni’ a safehouse that provides for their long and short-term basic needs, addiction recovery and psychosocial support. The staff received regular de-briefing sessions and tools of support from various therapy professionals to cope with, lead and better serve the beneficiaries. Team wellness continued to be a priority to develop resilience and skills, whilst working with beneficiaries who are dealing with severe trauma and various addictions.
Red Light normalises community interactions through beneficiaries volunteering and serving in their community. Micro financial support, stewardship, mentoring and income generating skills development were re-introduced through the Create Freedom Initiative.
Financial constraints necessitated the temporary closing of the Reach-out and Out-patient Programmes, which resulted in collective rightsizing efforts and adjustments, with a goal for 2024, to secure local and global funding to address the core roots of injustice and GBV.
Latest from our Blog
Peanut Butter For Better Results
Matric students at Siyabonga Secondary School, Lwazi Goqo and Andiswa Mhlongo know how a daily peanut butter sandwich makes a difference to her long hours of study.
This is the Blog Template
