03 September 2008- Gender

Just a recap of today’s show, we heard from Jenni Williams - National Coordinator for the Women of Zimbabwe Arise or WOZA. Later today the African Gender Institute and the International Center for Transitional Justice will launch the report titled “Counting the Cost of Courage: Trauma Experiences of Women Human Rights Defenders in Zimbabwe” produced by Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA). WOZA creates space to allow Zimbabweans to speak out on issues they may be too fearful to raise alone. The movement has conducted peaceful protests on various issues of civil rights and social justice in its six-year existence. WOZA activists have been consistent at standing up to oppression despite arrest, harassment and imprisonment. The report seeks to quantify the mental and emotional trauma suffered by the activists, in the hope that healing can be prioritised in any transition. Some of the women interviewed have a 30-year record of civic activism and have never been recipients of any form of counselling or reparation. Jenni will be a speaker at the launch and also Magodonga Mahlangu andTrust Musiwa, both from WOZA.The launch will be held today between 5 and 6pm at All Africa House, Middle Campus, at the University of Cape Town. For more information contact 078 371 5665 or visit their website http://www.wozazimbabwe.org/

We were also joined on the line by Reinette Evans – from the Helderberg Rape Crisis Centre. Rape Crisis Helderberg is a non-profit organization committed to help survivors of rape and abuse overcome their trauma through caring counselling amongst all the people in the Helderberg bowl and surroundings.
They are currently busy with a donations drive and they need donations in the form of goods for their second hand shop. They need bestsellers include: suitcases, linen, blankets, carpets, kitchenware, children’s clothing, anything you no longer want - even old furniture. They are more than prepared to even come to collect these items from your premises. For more information or if you would like to help call contact Reinette on (021) 852 5620 or go to http://www.crisiscentre.org.za/. You can even call the rape crisis line on 083 484 9409.
We also played a feature about being a woman in the 21st century. On Saturday I was part of women in Conversation volume 1 that was hosted in Gugulethu – where young women were discussing issues around the role of young women in Urban Culture.

And our last interview was with Mdebuka Nthwazi from Sikhula Sonke. The organisation focuses on early child development and trains parents as well as child care practitioners from Khayelitsha to better understand their roles as care givers. Many men underestimate the necessity for a strongly-involved male parenting role. Doing a good job as a parent is one of the most self-satisfying accomplishments. We spoke about the role of a father and the importance of having a strong male figure in a child’s life. If you would like to find out more, you can call them on (021) 467 1163 or visit their website http://www.sikhulasonke.org.za/. And you can call Mdebuka on 072 626 0565.