Theme

REACH took our 5th S.A. Rural Women's Day campaign on tour in celebration of our 5th year anniversary, visiting 5 of our beneficiary communities. The campaign’s main aim was to raise awareness on Gender Based violence and encourage communities to take action against violence, breaking the silence which continues the cycle of violence. The event featured an interactive play by a drama group from Paarl who focus on issues of violence against women, drug and alcohol abuse, teenage pregnancies, and family communication problems amongst other issues. The play allowed the audience to ask questions and give suggestions on how to deal with some of the issues being raised in the play. Other motivating speeches will also be held as well as the reveal of REACH’s 2010 “face of REACH”.

Areas

Swellendam, Napier, Gansbaai, Grabouw & Villiersdorp

Beneficiaries

More than 324 women, men and children

Funders

Pitseng Trust Women's Fund & Jet Lee Will Trust

Objective

To host a 4-day dialogue on the interlinkages of culture, genderbased violence and HIV and AIDS for the community of Mbekweni. The dialogues catered for individual sessions with women, men and the youth with the fourth day allowing all participants from the previous three days to focus on unpacking the issues and finding solutions for the way forward. To further capture all the discussions from the previous days, REACH had invited a Drama Group from Paarl to depict the issues being brought up. What worked very well was the fact that participants were able to ask questions and make suggestions to the characters on how to deal with issues.

Area

Avondale, Paarl

Beneficiaries

18 women, 15 men, 42 girls & boys and on the final day 57 participants

Funder

 

Objective

To host a 4-day dialogue on the interlinkages of culture, genderbased violence and HIV and AIDS for the community of Mbekweni. The dialogues catered for individual sessions with women, men and the youth with the fourth day allowing all participants from the previous three days to focus on unpacking the issues and finding solutions for the way forward. To further capture all the discussions from the previous days, REACH had invited the Lukhanyo Drama Group from Mbekweni (a project that has been running for 10 years) to visually depict the issues being brought up. The drama group that participated in this process was largely formed of young school going children and had been in formation for 6 months.

Area

Mbekweni, Paarl

Beneficiaries

345 women, men and youth

Funder

 

Theme

During its 4th campaign, REACH decided to host a road show which coincided with the 16 days of Activism for NO Violence against Women and Children. REACH visited 3 of its beneficiary communities (Gansbaai, Grabouw and Villiersdorp) to not only touch base with its existing beneficiaries but to also meet new community members. A community workshop was held in each of the areas to raise awareness around sexual harassment, sexual violence and HIV/AIDS as well as to investigate the perceptions and incidences of these issues currently in their community.

Face of REACH

Claudine, community worker from Gaansbaai 

Area

Gansbaai, Villiersdorp, Grabouw

Beneficiaries

200 women, men and children

Sponsors

Appletizer, Clicks, Community Chest & Mustadafin Foundation, Eskom, Elite Athlone Industria, FEDEX, Avondale Community, Ethne Davey, Glenise Levendal, Nic Roberts 

Theme

The campaign focused on a 10 step plan to address community violence and commenced with a march through the town centre, demonstrating everyone’s commitment and solidarity to advocating for the eradication of crime and violence, proceeding to a local community hall where guests were empowered through various moving and motivating speeches and entertained by various local drama, singing and dance groups. A children’s event held in a different venue to the main event also provided children with their own programme of sports activities, educational and awareness-raising talks, plays and activities focusing on domestic violence, teenage pregnancies, drug and alcohol abuse, poverty and teen pressure, singing shows and dance competitions. The campaign ensured that guests were given the opportunity to have their say and were challenged to make their pledges/commitments to contribute towards the eradication of community violence. The event also saw the nomination of REACH's 2008 Face of REACH, the very deserving Paulina who is a farm worker from Villiersdorp. The event received media coverage by newspapers Die Burger and Die Son.

Partners

Local Swellendam organizations A.C.V.V, Badisa, Help and Care for our Community, Community Development Workers, Hesekwa Skakelmaatskappy, Lovelife, Swellendam SAPS, Swellendam’s youth and sports forum, Tusong Community Centre and Grabouw’s Eye on the Child. tab=Venue}Swellendam

Beneficiaries

More than 1500 women, men and children from across the Overberg, Overstrand and Boland regions of the Western Cape

Affirmations

•“I [want] to applaud you guys for the wonderful work you do in the rural communities and the empowering day you held on Saturday 16 August 2008. Thank you for inviting [me], I was really impressed. Please do not hesitate to let me know how I can assist in my personal capacity or as Eskom wherever I can. Thanks again.” Ursula Kibido, Eskom

•“Congratulations on a well and professionally organized event on Saturday, it was a pleasure to be able to attend and to be of assistance, keep up the wonderful work you are making the huge difference in the lives of those in most need. Well Done.” Greg Damster, Manager: Special Events & Competitions. Community Chest

Sponsors

Appletiser, Associated Fruit Processors, Clicks, Community Chest, Department of Social Development, Department of Social Development Worcester District Office, Department of Provincial and Local Government, Department of Public Enterprises, Enous Packaging, Eskom, Eveready, Farouk Meyer, Hesekwa Skakelmaatskappy, L'Oreal, Old Mutual, Peninsula Beverages, Revlon, Rhodes Food Group & Magpie, Ugrow Creative Solutions

Theme

The event served as our 1st Annual General Meeting while officially launching a research study conducted by us in 2006 called “Sexual harassment: is it really a problem on farms?” In amongst the charming anecdotes by MC’s Joanie Fredericks, Executive Director and Madge Jackson, board member, of REACH, various guest speakers were welcomed to share their views of issues affecting farm working communities and the impressive impact that REACH has made thus far in its short life span. The research findings were projected on screen in English but narrated in Afrikaans to ensure that everyone had a solid understanding of the seriousness of the findings and what it means for not only our farming communities but South Africa as a whole. REACH's Projects Director, Claudia Lopes and nominated Face of REACH, Susan (farm worker from Villiersdorp) were interviewed by SABC News once again highlighting the seriousness of the findings and the effect that harassment and gender based violence was having in farming communities. The formal entertainment component—a drama production - was delivered by “Buffeljags Survivors” a group of farm workers and students from Swellendam who attended our weekend away awareness-raising workshops and used the workshop learning's and their experiences to write, produce and enact a play! Florina Samson, one of the community leaders from a farm in Buffeljagsrivier Swellendam wrote this play for REACH, a story that describes a family and a community that is marred by alcoholism, domestic violence, sexual harassment and HIV/AIDS. Her inspiration arose from the daily experiences of farm workers and her aim was to paint this very real picture, with the same message of empowerment that we were able to impart them with. Guests were captivated by the actresses and the funny but touching story. This group was such a hit that they have since been invited to perform at various other events. Various activities and singing competitions followed, winners receiving wonderful gifts sponsored by a range of companies. The day ended with the serving of dinner and distribution of clothes and hampers.

Venue

Farm community hall in Grabouw

Beneficiaries

600 women and men 

Highlights

The event and the research findings were broadcast on the South African Broadcasting Commissions (SABC) television news; on SABC’s radio station and Bush Radio; and featured in two newspapers: Die Burger and on the front page of the Cape Times! SANGONeT, an NGO web portal, featured a special NGO profile on REACH following the success of the event.

Affirmations

•“Thank u so much – I am sure that every person here have learned something – each of us has been equipped with knowledge. Thank u to every one responsible for this day – thank u for just going that extra mile for – we are the woman of power – the woman the mother – the woman the friend whom God has chosen to be mother. We salute you. This day has been chosen by God – God bless you." (farm worker from Paarl)

•Dearest Joanie and Claudia, firstly, let me wish you a HUGE Congratulations on today's celebration. I really felt like staying on til the end and then to celebrate with you afterwards (which I hope you are doing now). My sincere apologies again for having to leave early. Now let me tell you how impressed I am with all your work - the workshops and trainings, the advocacy, the stakeholder engagement (I understand how enormous each of these tasks are). I am also extremely impressed with your research Report - the rigour, the methodology, the candour and the startling (but not surprising unfortunately) results and recommendations. I also thought the annual report reflects a very professional and serious organisation, that lives and breathes by a successful mix of principles and pragmatism. I hope I can help Reach grow to new strengths and I wish you the very best in the coming months. I look forward to seeing you...again soon. With much fondness, Francois Bonnici, The Schwab Foundation

Sponsors

Appletizer, Arthur Baguley, Associated Fruit Processors, Brian Abdoll’s family & friends, Caledon Casino, Clicks, Community Chest, Dr. Francois Bonnici, Elgin Roses, Emmanuel Garanito, Jalaal’s Fire Foods, International Labour Rights Fund, Konica Minolta, Loreal, Molteno Brothers,
Ugrow Creative Solutions, Peninsula Beverages, Peter Frost, Revlon, Rhodes Food Products, the Sutter Family, Woolworths 

Theme

As a follow-up from the 12 August South African Rural Women’s Day, REACH made sure that rural women were once again counted. On the 14th of October 2006 REACH held an event celebrating International Rural Women’s Day. About 80 guests, farm working women, men and their children, were treated to a cinematic experience: the movie North Country featuring Charlize Theron delivered a message that women have the right and the strength to stand up against sexual harassment. The day ended with the distribution of clothes kindly sponsored by a leading retail store.

Venue

Grabouw

Beneficiaries

80 women

Sponsors

Eskom, Woolworths via Greater Good South Africa

Theme

Encouraging dialogue for the empowerment of Rural Women: in 2006, REACH initiated a campaign called the South African Rural Women’s Day (SARWD) that was inspired by beneficiaries and in particular by a very special man, a farm community leader from Paarl, who we affectionately call “Oom Sydney”, who has played an important role in REACH’s development and growth since it was founded. It was during a workshop that he spoke openly about his daughter’s death from AIDS. He confessed to having been deeply angry at first but then sad that his daughter had not had the courage to speak to him about her illness until it was too late. He also spoke about being aware of so many others having unprotected sex and spreading the virus. We took notice of all of these calls for action and in 2006 initiated a unique day – a South African Rural Women’s Day (S.A.R.W.D) - a day that was to honour rural women while providing a platform to raise poignant issues affecting farming communities and allow our farming beneficiaries to have their say. Every year REACH also nominates a “Face of REACH” – a woman from our beneficiary community that we have worked with over that year, a woman that has endured many trials and tribulations in her life but still continues to brave through life’s challenges and exemplifies empowerment and triumph in the face of adversity. The “Face of REACH” serves as REACH’s community ambassador.

Partners

Activists Networking against the Exploitation of Child Domestic Workers (ANEX), Rape Crisis Cape Town Trust; Centre for Rural Legal Studies

Venue

Grabouw

Beneficiaries

100 women and men

Sponsors

Appletizer, Eskom, Foschini, Mustadafin Foundation