Do you live with a dark cloud of pain hanging over you because you’re a victim of rape, domestic violence, mugging, or hijacking? Champions for Change (C4C) is here to help to overcome that situation.
After becoming a victim of any of these unfortunate events, people tend to bottle their emotions inside them, which does not help the situation and only creates a bigger monster. Some victims choose to keep quiet because they are probably still in denial, afraid or embarrassed. However, you are not alone – there are many people around you going through the same thing.
Rape, abuse and crime can affect anyone, irrespective of whether you are married or single, a three-month-old baby or a 80-year-old grandmother; whether you live in the suburbs or in an informal settlement; whether you have a job or are a scholar.
C4C empowers victims and turns them into survivors.
“I am a people’s person and have learned that the community is bleeding from the scars of rape and abuse. For this reason, I want the community to know that there is help out there. Simply talking about your experience can lighten the burden you’ve been carrying,” said Ward 85 councillor, Sonja Meyer.
C4C also works with the Roodepoort Police, because they focus on the perpetrators of crime while C4C focuses on the victims.
“I have been volunteering at this centre for almost three years now. I find fulfillment in knowing that there is a life that I have touched and changed. I want to help women and men to fight the monster of rape and abuse in our community. We also educate children from a young age about where one is not allowed to be touched,” said Christina Mogotlane.
Gwendoline Pretorius, founder of C4C stated, “C4C has been running for four years and it has grown a lot, we have weekly support groups and we do a lot of art therapy and sport. We teach our people not to hold on to their victim-hood but to use this as a learning curve to put them back on track while building a survivor mentality to replace our current culture of entitlement and victim head.”
“I would like to offer my help as I have been down this road. I have been hurt before and would like to help others overcome their circumstances. If we women stand together, we can do it all,” said Florence Roberts, who is a leadership coach, group facilitator and communications specialist.
C4C needs volunteer social workers, sponsorship, Wendy houses, printers and grandstand repairs (among many other things). They are located at 30 Paul Kruger Avenue (corner Georginia Street) in Horison.
For more information, contact Gwen on 083 381 8707 or on 083 413 7116.
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.
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