Description:
Problem:
Family
violence and abuse are among the most prevalent
forms of interpersonal violence against
women and young children---both boys and
girls. The result of such violence may cause
serious physical, sexual, and psychological
harm; injuries; or death. The startling
rape statistics of our area indicate that
members of families are guilty in the majority
of cases of violating younger members of
the family unit, with often alcohol or drugs
being used as an excuse.
The
majority of victims of family violence are
women and young children, and the majority
of victimizers are men. Violence can occur
at any stage in intimate relationships between
adults. Often violence occurs on a continuum,
beginning when a couple is dating and continuing
through partnership, child rearing, and
aging. Violence may also begin or recur
within specific contexts at various stages
of the relationship.
Family
violence traumatises all victims. Even a
single act of violence by a family member
may cause long-lasting trauma as well as
immediate harm to a victim or an observer.
Repeated abuse and severe violence causes
significant psychological distress and may
result in post-traumatic stress disorder;
depression; or dis-associative, anxiety,
or mood disorders. Abuse may also lead to
suicidal feelings, suicide attempts, and
substance abuse.
Multiple
forms of violence against women cause serious
physical health consequences. For example,
in primary care practice, women who have
been raped report more symptoms of illness
and more negative health behaviors, including
alcohol use, smoking, and failure to use
seat belts, than non-victimized women.
They
visit their physicians more than twice as
often as women who have not been raped.
Approximately 21% of women using emergency
surgical services are there because of physical
partner abuse.
For
the victim and the family, violence and
abuse may lead to destructive long-term
psychological and physical consequences.
Beyond the family, violence has serious
economic and social consequences to society.
The best way to promote violence-free families
is to stop the development of abusive behavior,
especially in boys and men; to strengthen
and empower potential victims to resist
or avoid victimization; and to change the
environment that promotes the use of violence.
Domestic
Violence Project:
This
is a community based project directed towards
the elimination of family violence, and
support to rape victims with the focus on
women and children. The project is called
"PHAMBILI" which is a Xhosa word
for onwards or forwards.
The
project has four legs:
- The Rape Crisis
Room at the George Provincial Hospital
- The Refugee for
Battered Women and their Children
- The Domestic Violence
Office at the George and Thembelathu
Regional Courts
- The Intermissary
Room at the George Provincial Court
PHAMBILI
has been in operation for approximately
4 years with the start of Rape Crisis. Phambili
utilises and trains volunteers from the
community on the four programmes. So far
PHAMBILI has been operating on the support
of local business but the need has become
so great in the area that funding is required
from further afield.
Rape
Crisis
Rape
crisis provides assistance to rape victims.
A separate room at the George Provincial
Hospital has been set aside so those victims
may be treated in privacy. The Police and
a trained councilor generally escort them
to the room. The Police contact the councilor
and then they both escort the victim to
the Private Room. At the private room they
are examined by a physician and given counciling
regarding pregnancy and AIDS. The drug AZT
is administered where necessary. A follow-up
counciling appointment is set up to determine
if on-going or family counseling is required.
The room also provides clean clothes and
bathing facilities.
Refuge for Battered Women and Their Children
The
shelter is home to approximately 30 people
at any one time including children. A Care
and treatment programme is in operation
to address the issues of Family Violence
and to break the cycle of violence.
The
women are admitted to the shelter for a
period of 3 months. During this time they
participate in the Care and Treatment Plan
where our main goal is enabling these women
and children to break free from the cycle
of abuse and assisting them to function
independently within the community
Activities
at the Refuge which form part of the Care
and Treatment Plan include the following:
- House Cleaning
and Gardening
- Needlework and
Sewing
- Exercise/Relaxation
Class
- Aids Training
- Life Skills Training
- Church Groups
- Cancer Association
- This includes lectures on the importance
of self-examination for breast cancer
and the need for cervical smears on
an annual basis.
- Arts and Crafts
- Choir Practice
- Nutrition Clinic
- Alcohol and Drug
abuse from SANCA
- Self Defence
- Group Work: Children
Know your body
- Lifeskills
- Group Work Women
Cycle of Abuse
The
Domestic Violence Offiice at Thembelethu
and George Regional Courts
Victims
of domestic violence often failed to seek
assistance and protection, as the unfriendly
environment with which they were greeted
at our courts dissuaded them from pursuing
the matter. For this reason PHMBILI decided
to launch a project in which they train
volunteers to assist the public with applications
for protection orders against domestic violence.
With the help of the volunteers, victims
are encouraged to address the issue of family
violence and are assisted in a friendly
and more secure environment.
The
Intermediary Room
The
Intermediary Room is an isolated room where
children and severely traumatised victims
of rape and assault testify, with the assistance
of an intermediary (such as a councilor
trained by PHAMBILI) on a closed circuit
camera. Through this medium the victim is
spared the further emotional trauma of having
to be confronted by the accused and having
to be subjected to undue mental stress or
suffering. The room was decorated by PHAMBILI
in friendly relaxed way with emphasis on
cartoon murals to put particularly the children
at ease. The environment is now more comfortable
and less traumatised place for victims whilst
testifying.
Objective:
Goals
and Objectives
There
are three major goals for the "PHAMBILI"
project and specific objectives within each
of the goals.
| Goal
#1 |
To
reduce the degree of family violence
in the community. |
| Objective
#1.1 |
To
provide a refuge for mothers and
their children in a safe secure
environment and supply relevant
education and information to sustain
this within their communities. |
| Objective
#1.2 |
To
assist victims of violence with
the tools to empower them to make
life changing decisions in order
for them to empower themselves and
aspire to a secure environment for
themselves and their children. |
| Goal
#2 |
To effectively
use volunteers as a major factor in
helping people to learn. |
| Objective
#2.1 |
To
continue to recruit and educate
volunteers within the communities
to effectively educate and support
victims of family violence. |
| Goal
#3 |
To establish
a skills development programme |
| Objective
# 3.1 |
To
equip our clientele with skills
that are self sustaining through
implementation of a sewing programme,
knitting programme and entrepreneurial
training, whereby the products produced
are sold within the communities
that we serve. |
Target
group:
There are two target groups for this project.
The first, and primary, clientele are women
and mothers of children who are victims
of abuse.
The
second clientele group are victims of rape
who may or may not be part of the family
violence cycle.
Both
clientele groups are important and essential
components of this project. It is expected
that significant learning will take place
for both clientele groups.
Approach:
PHAMBILI
utilises and trains volunteers to council
these victims in their own environments,
and to support those who want to stop the
cycle of abuse.
A
Treatment and Care Programme is implemented
at the Refuge. Rape Crisis councillors do
follow counselling and visits.
Activities:
Activities
at the Refuge which form part of the Care
and Treatment Plan include the following:
- House Cleaning
and Gardening
- Needlework and
Sewing
- Exercise/Relaxation
Class
- Aids Training
- Life Skills Training
- Church Groups
- Cancer Association
- This includes lectures on the importance
of self-examination for breast cancer
and the need for cervical smears on
an annual basis.
- Arts and Crafts
- Choir Practice
- Nutrition Clinic
- Alcohol and Drug
abuse from SANCA
- Self Defence
- Group Work: Children
Know your body
- Lifeskills
- Group Work Women
Cycle of Abuse
Results:
| Rape
Victims |
Average
of 35 victims per month |
| Domestic
Violence |
Office
Average of 100 applications per
month |
| Refuge |
Average
of 30 individuals per month which
includes women
with their children |
We
have a 70% success rate with residents
of the refuge who are rehabilitated
into society. Of these most acquire
skills and find employment within
the community. The skills acquired
at the refuge further these aims. |
Project
Team:
Since
1999
The
project team include:
-
René Mouton (President)
- Imelda Egan (Head of Project)
Evidence:
Photos
Contact:
Imelda
Egan (Head of Project)
Tel: +27 44 8771268
Fax: +27 44 8730764
Mobile 0829654321
E-Mail: Imelda.Egan@freemailabsa.co.za |
