Breaking Barriers to Empower Young Women

Ethembeni (Place of Hope) Community Centre, located in De Aar, was established in 2001. It provides a comprehensive Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP), offering trauma counselling, court support, and a place of safety for individuals affected by domestic and gender-based violence.

Social challenges are among the key factors contributing to violent behaviour, affecting not only individuals but entire communities. Without intervention programmes like those offered by Ethembeni, communities remain vulnerable to poverty, drug abuse, economic deprivation, unemployment, sexual abuse, rape, and teenage pregnancy.

Beyond offering support, Ethembeni empowers individuals through various skills development programmes, helping them overcome obstacles and build a hopeful, stronger future. In 2015, the centre launched the Girl Child Programme, an initiative focused on educating and empowering adolescent girls and young women through workshops, support groups, and camps. Many young women, often at risk of exploitation, teenage pregnancy, and HIV due to poverty and substance abuse, have found hope and guidance through this programme.

The Sibona Ilanga Trust has played a vital role in supporting this initiative. Through the Trust’s intervention, girls as young as 12 are being educated in schools, workshops, and camps. They are taught life skills, encouraged to embrace their childhood, and empowered to discover their potential while focusing on a brighter future.