Company gives millions in support of abuse victims

Development organisations working with women and child abuse have received a lifeline from a funding agency that is making R4 million available.

This paper and the police consistently report cases of child and women abuse, while charity organisations state their main operational challenge as resources.

Vital Health Foods’ established Vital Foundation which will disburse funds as grants to organisations doing good work in protecting, prosecuting and preventing the abuse of women and children.

The announcement was made by the company’s managing director, George Grieve on the foundation’s first anniversary celebration. He said the fund was allocated to tackle the country’s worrisome rate of crime and violence, which haveearned it notoriety globally, and especially domestic violence.

Grieve said the rate of crime, violence and abuse impacted households as well as the workplace with chronic fatigue, post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, sexually transmitted infections, absenteeism, loss of confidence, and soaring medical costs which strained the public health system. He added that a study by the University of Kwazulu-Natal proved that on average the cost to treat a victim of domestic violence stood at around R4 800, compared to an average monthly salary of R3 300. “Business can no longer sit back and do nothing about an issue that not only affects civil society mentally and physically, but also the economy,” said Grieve.

Organisations wanting to access the funding will have to prove their capacity in supporting abused women and children, must be older than six months, be formally registered as an NPO, NGO or any form of non-profit organisation, and be willing to report on their activities and financial expenditure.

Details: craig@dummettandcompany.co.za