POLOKWANE – Human rights activist Mary Selona said serving the same community she grew up in makes it easier to understand the challenges they face as well as their human rights needs and access to justice.
Selona is the community centre manager for the Blood River Advice Center outside Seshego and is changing the lives of the people in her community.
Selona has worked as the manager at the centre since 2016 after joining in 2011 and works alongside four permanent staff members, a social worker and a trained community-based paralegal among other volunteers.
“The one thing I will always love about my work is that I am able to bring positive change into my community, especially for women,” she said.
The centre recently initiated a sisterhood programme that has recruited 107 women to be trained to identify cases of GBV, human rights violations and labour matters through community dialogues and educational campaigns.
The programme is also aimed at creating employment opportunities for women in Blood River community.
“The organisation depends entirely on donations and in some instances can cause challenges,” she told the Polokwane Observer.
The centre’s services are not limited to any gender, group or race and Selona said they want to help anyone who seeks it. She added that they are also open to working with other organisations to improve their services.
The centre can be contacted on 072 789 5847
