Safe Today. Strong Tomorrow.
- Staff
- Sep 8
- 2 min read
Friends, we have big news and an even bigger goal!
But first...Did you know?
1. Rape, gang violence, drugs, and poverty terrorize many women and girls living in Cape Town. Femicide, the gender-based killing of women, is a brutal manifestation of gender-based violence. South Africa has national femicide levels that are almost five times the world's average*
2. Of the top 10 most dangerous cities in the world, half are located in South Africa.* Gender-based violence is a frightening problem. Nationwide, rape constitutes a shocking 38% of reported crimes against children in South Africa. The majority of those 90.1%—child rape victims are girls.*
3. Gender-based violence destroys the fabric of a community, affecting women, children, and men. Roughly 28% of South African men admitted to raping at least one woman, and 46% of those admitted to being repeat offenders; further, 7.7% admitted to raping ten or more women or girls. *
4. The current unemployment rate for women over age 18 is shockingly nearly 32%, one of the highest on the continent.* This leaves them vulnerable to predatory harm and trafficking.
BIG GOAL: provide a bigger, safer space for learning, connection, and retreat. A place that doesn't make mothers targets as they carry a laptop or valuables in a dangerous place. We need a safe place to talk, to pray, to weep, without fear of being seen, overheard, or followed.
We would LOVE to purchase a 3-bedroom house in a safer area, just outside of Ocean View. We are calling this Harbor House. It is both refuge and restoration. This house will have security systems, access to electricity and wi-fi, and be a beautiful place of retreat that will be accessible to all.
A secure meeting place is crucial for individuals to feel safe in their healing and learning environment. The cost is approximately $248,000, which includes furnishing, utilities, and security.
Will you join us? It's a huge step, but one that would be an immeasurable gift to the community.
IMAGINE THE IMPACT!
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