Local bowling club honours Women’s Day in tournament
“GBV is an age-old matter, and gender inequality is even older."
Bedfordview’s Belgravia Bowling Club hosted a tournament in support of People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA) on Women’s Day.
POWA is an NPO dedicated to combating gender-based violence (GBV) and supporting survivors.
Their services include emotional and legal support, advocacy and community education.
The event, organised by Bridget Maudsley, a committee member of the bowling club, brought together community members for a day of friendly competition, camaraderie and raising awareness about the work done by POWA.
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Maudsley, who also holds the portfolio for entertainment within the club’s committee, said, “This Women’s Day, I thought, let’s have a charity that we can earmark where we are going and POWA was my first choice.
“It is wonderful that we have now started this relationship with them. Women’s Day is important every year and I would like to choose a different women’s empowerment organisation each time.”
Maudsley added that women and children organisations are important.
“We just can’t get enough funding for them. They do such incredible work.”
The event was attended by POWA’s representative, Jeanette Sera, who highlighted the significance of the event’s impact on their organisation.
She thanked Bridget for reaching out to their organisation.
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“As an NPO we depend on funding to survive.
“Donations of any kind make a real difference.
“GBV is an age-old matter, and gender inequality is even older,” she said.
Sera also explained that GBV is a global concern and the need for society to be involved in helping each other.
“Creating awareness shouldn’t be a one-time occurrence but rather a year-long program, embedded in people’s minds consistently.
“It must find its place in school curricula,” she added.
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The event not only raised awareness about GBV and women’s empowerment but also contributed funds to aid POWA’s vital efforts.
For enquiries, POWA can be contacted on 011 642 4345 or via email at info@powa.co.za
