Champions in the fight against women and child abuse

Centre provides a safe haven for survivors of abuse

Gwendoline Pretorius with volunteer Chaplain Jeanette Visagie who helps with counselling at the Centre. Photo: Supplied

The women and children who are victims of abuse often do not know where to go or who to turn to for help.

The Champions for Change (C4C) Women’s Centre, situated in Horison, has an answer.

This centre works on referrals from the police or the Clinical Forensic Medical Unit based at Discoverer’s Hospital, offering counselling services to survivors of abuse and rape.

Gwendoline Pretorius, the Managing Director of the centre, told the Record, “We would like the community to know that these services are offered free of charge, and we are in need of volunteers.”

The centre not only offers therapy through arts and crafts; it also provides life-skills training to the women as the staff feel this is the best way to assist them to become more independent and liberated from their life of violence.

“These women have become so accustomed to their violent lifestyle and they have nowhere to go, no financial assistance and no skills to enable them to get employment,” Gwendoline said.

The Teddy Bear Clinic also operates from the centre every Tuesday and Wednesday from 9am to 1pm.

The C4C Centre is in need of clothing for women and children, as well as toiletries for the comfort bags they make up.

Financial donations are also welcome as they use the money to pay for the training programmes that empower the women.

To offer your assistance or for more information, contact Gwendoline on 083 381 8707.

Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.