As safe as houses

POLOKWANE – A safe house for women who have been victims of sexual abuse and human trafficking or who no longer wish to be sex workers, will be opened in the city on July 1.

The launch of the project will take place at the Polokwane Royal Hotel this week and the home will be known as the Ekuphumleni Restoration Home; a vision of Nobza Javu.

Javu bought the house some time ago with the idea of opening a safe house.

She registered as a non-profit organisation in January last year, and her vision is now taking shape. ThyREST is going to be a faith-based residential programme to assist women with healing and to regain control of their lives. “Many people are too embarrassed to talk about sexual abuse, and families want to sweep it under the carpet. The victims are the ones who slowly die inside. If untreated, the effects may last a lifetime,” Javu said. She said she was a victim of rape when she was between five and eight years old. “By God’s grace I was not affected so much, but only later began to get flashbacks,” she said.

“For now it is the security that needs attention. And it needs to get painted and fitted out,” Javu said.

The house has three bedrooms and will be able to offer eight people shelter. Javu has big plans: she also wants a farm, or bigger premises such as a smallholding, later on where more women could be housed; her idea is to then use the house as a crisis centre only.

The house will have a day- and night mother, and Javu is thinking of acting as night mother at the house, and still continuing her current job during the day. She is currently working in the financial field and is studying psychology through Unisa. She has already finished 18 modules, 15 of which she completed with distinctions.

“The personal recovery organisation, Stop Childhood Sexual Abuse will loan us a day mother for six months to get the programme going. We will be working closely with the police, doctors and psychologists.

The women will live in the house for six months, during which they will get skills training in sewing and on computers as well as counselling. The double garage is ideal for skills training but sewing machines and computers are needed.

Those who wish to attend the launch need not buy tickets but should rather bring much needed items like linen, single beds, bunk beds, paint, sewing machines, computers and toiletries. Javu invited pastors from all churches, government officials, psychologists and any other interested parties to the launch.

Anyone wishing to assist in any way can contact Javu at 073 174 9185.