REACH Rural Education & Community Health
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Rape is the worst form of sexual harassment. If S.A. had a law on sexual harassment do you think we could prevent some rapes from happening?


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REACH funded by LOTTO
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Who is REACH?

REACH was founded in response to the high prevalence of sexual harassment and genderbased violence in the Western Cape’s farming communities and lack of support services. 2005 marked the beginning of REACH's journey in its attempts at eradicating these social ills in rural farm communities.

Why REACH?

Why focus on sexual harassment in rural farming communities? The story is an interesting one...

Vision & Mission

to sensitize rural farming communities on the issues of sexual harassment and sexual violence for an empowered community free from these human rights abuses

Our Staff

meet our staff

Our board

meet our board

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Chairperson: Joy Watson

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Joy is a Senior Researcher specialising on analysing the impact of legislation and public policy on social groups such as women, children and persons with disabilities. She has a history of 18 years of gender activism, is a dedicated feminist and has written extensively on women’s rights issues and the gendered implications of public policy. She has published both academic articles and more contemporary pieces in women’s magazines and journals. She uses her writing as an agent for social change. She is currently working on a Phd which looks at the contribution made by national gender machineries to transforming power relations in society.

Vice-Chairperson: Glenise Levendal

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Glenise is the Associate Country Director of Oxfam. Before joining Oxfam Canada, she was a Project Coordinator for the Gender Advocacy Programme (GAP), a lecturer and coordinator of the Women and Gender Studies Programme at the University of the Western Cape and a paralegal caseworker and a coordinator of the Women for Local Governance Project at the Black Sash Trust in Knysna.

Treasurer: Ursula Kibido

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Ursula is a Senior Communication Advisor at Eskom Peaking Generation where she is responsible for planning, co- coordinating and executing an effective and innovative communication programme for the Peaking Power Stations.  Ursula has an extensive tertiary education which includes a degree majoring in Psychology and Industrial Sociology.

Secretary: James Senokwanyane

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James is a Training Manager at Ekhozi Rural Development Services.  Before joining the company, James was a Programme Coordinator for NPO Sustainability at Inyathelo – The South African Institute for Advancement and a Project Manager at the Non-Profit Consortium (NPC), a Community Development Officer at the Land Development Unit and a Training Manager at the Boskop Training Centre.  He was invited to the board of REACH in 2007 due to his vast knowledge of virtually all aspects of organizational development, implementation, governance, monitoring; evaluation and legislation.

Juliana Davids

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"Within the short time of serving on the Board of Reach, I have witnessed a remarkable group of women who dedicate lives to women in less fortunate communities. The eradication of violence, the promotion of gender equality and the creation of a safe environment for healing are but a few of the advocacy activities the organization tackles. These serve as catalysts for a better reality and a possibility of a greater future for the women and their families. I am truly in the presence of greatness. Aluta Continua  REACH!"

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Juliana is a Program Associate at EngenderHealth, an organization that is dedicated to improve the lives of people globally in the field of family planning through various programs.  Her work includes working with men in partnership with women to end gender-based violence, reduce the spread of HIV and AIDS as well as the promotion of gender equity or equality. These Interventions are done in the form of various trainings and formation of community teams in order to strengthen communities and families in rural areas as well as the Cape Metro pole.  Juliana has worked in the HIV and AIDS and gender field as a trainer for the last 7 years.  Other experiences comprise of HIV and AIDS education and VCT in one of South Africa’s most notorious prisons, Polls Moor, to conducting VCT and gender training at the University of the Western Cape with students and staff where she received the Impact Award for her work done with college students.  She has also been involved in a number of projects and continues the fight for social justice. These include a theatre piece called “Reclaiming the p…word”, an adaptation of the “Vagina Monologues” that was performed amongst others at the South African National Arts festival and has received positive reviews.  Juliana is also a founding member of the “Women in Black South Africa” – a group that holds silent vigils and marches against gender based violence.

Community Rep: Claudine Dyck

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Claudine is one of REACH’s clients and beneficiaries and plays an instrumental role within REACH serving as its community ambassador in her role as Face of REACH and as a board member.  She also plays a vital and valuable role in her community in Gansbaai.  She is currently the manager and coordinator of a safe house, supported by social services and the police in this capacity.  She is the Chairperson of a project called “Neighbours help Neighbours” and sits on several other committees.  She was elected as Community Leader by the Overstrand Municipality and is tasked to report any unlawful structures and keep records and statistics of her community.  She is also a foster mother and is currently fostering two abused children.  In 2009, Claudine was elected as the “Women of the Year” by the Mayor of the Overstrand District Municipality.  Prior to 2009, Claudine was an assistant manager at Savers Lane and worked on an ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn for 11 years.

Farm community Rep: Sydney Johannes

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Sidney is one of REACH’s beneficiaries and has been involved with the organization since its inception.  Sidney was the inspiration behind the initiation of REACH’s South African Rural Women’s Day campaign that is celebrated on an annual basis.  Sidney has worked on farms for 38 years – before commencing work at Avondale, the farm he currently works in, he was with Ronwe farms for 32 years.   Sidney is a committee member for the Avondale Community Project – an organization that is one of REACH’s project partners in the Changing the Rivers Flow Project.  Sidney has for many years been involved in community work in different capacities both in the educational realm as well as non-profit.

Vivienne Lalu

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Vivienne works for an organization called RAPCAN - Resources Aimed at the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. Before joining RAPCAN she was an Advocacy Coordinator at Sex Worker Education and Advocacy Task Force (SWEAT) where she played a big role in SWEAT’s facilitation for the voices of sex workers to be heard in the policy making process of law reform. Vivienne is a previous committee member of the Cape Town region of the Western Cape’s Network for Violence against Women.

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