Street women given a second chance

‘Ani Vileli’ is managed by the indomitable Corinne Sanderbergh whose care for the women is unconditional. Ani Vileli (which means ‘I have no worries’) is a non-profit organisation situated outside Tzaneen and was founded in 2014 by Corinne Sanderbergh to help sex workers and women living on the street turn their lives around.

There are currently nine women attending the centre. “It was not an easy task working with the girls when they first arrived here,” says Corinne. “Some went back to the streets. So, with the girls that stayed, I identified ways to help them. We teach them to stand up for themselves and look after themselves. They are taught skills such as handwork and crafts,” Corinne said.

The women are taught to crochet, farm chickens for eggs, gardening, cooking, and baking. The ladies from the organisation explained how their lives were before they came across Ani Vileli. Jane* described her journey. “A few years ago, I had to leave my home due to difficult circumstances, which led to me living on the streets. One day, Mama Corinne found me on the street and said to me, ‘Come, I just want to pray with you.

I decided to follow her and my life has completely changed since being a part of Ani Vileli. “I am a born-again believer and love Jesus so much. The Lord has truly done a miracle in my life and due to this, there is peace in my house. I give thanks to our Lord and Saviour for taking me out of hardship and placing new joy in my heart,” she said.

Thembi* said she lived on the streets for a very long time and that she still cannot believe that she managed to get out of that life. “I lived and worked on the street, sleeping in the bush. One night, Corinne came searching for us. She called us and told us to come and learn about the man, Jesus.

“She prayed with us, took us off the street and now my life has changed. I can now just say thanks – in front of God – for Corinne who showed me the way to Jesus and because of that, my life has changed. I am part of the team that does sewing and crocheting for Ani Vileli,” she said. Others explained the difficulties they endured while on the streets and the dangers they came across.

“I had a very hard life, I was abused by men and I drank and smoked a lot. Living on the streets is dangerous and you never know when you are going to die,” said Lucy*. “We would get stabbed for fighting for our money when ‘clients’ refused to pay. We could not go to the hospital since we had to explain how we got stabbed. “So we would go home wounded and stay off the streets until it heals.

“The Lord then sent Corinne over my path, which saved my life. I am now a born-again believer and I am also in the fortunate position of being project manager for Ani Vileli, where I help the women who work here with anything they might need, especially at their homes,” she said. Dina* said that before she met Corinne, she suffered a lot and had no money.

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“Corinne found me in Talana Hostel and she asked me to come to the church with her. I then gave my life to the Lord and got baptised. “I say thanks to Corinne and to God, because ever since being a part of Ani Vileli, I am filled with joy and have food on my table. My work here at Ani Vileli involves sewing, crocheting, and baking. I get to walk around without any shame or looking over my shoulder and that makes me a proud woman,” she explained. “Before I met Corinne, I lived on the street, where I was abused by men.

One day Corinne came to me on the street and said to me, ‘come with me, I want to give you life. I want to show you the way of God’. I initially refused,” said Sara*. “She then invited me for tea on Wednesdays. She made sure that I will attend by paying for my transport. “She has helped me so much in my life and ever since being a part of Ani Vileli, I have been able to put food on the table, got medical help as well as employment. I am now part of the team that does crocheting for Ani Vileli,” she told the Herald.

Nkhensi* said she has found love and is now newlywed. “Before I was a part of Ani Vileli, I suffered a great deal and had a lot of anger in my heart. I did not know anything about Jesus Christ. “When I joined Ani Vileli, they taught me the Word of God as well as skills which I can use to make a living.

I am now in the position where I help other women by teaching them how to crochet and earn an income from it. “God has performed a miracle in my life. I am also happy to say that I found a man who loves me and we are now married,” she said.

*Not their real names.