Our Mission Statement
The mission of the SBCWC is to provide a range of accessible and safe services to women and children by working in partnership with organisations who oppose violence against women; providing emergency, short and medium term residential care; and prioritising awareness of women
About Us
Opened in 1999, the SBCWC is a one-stop centre for women and children experiencing abuse. Services include a shelter and transitional housing, legal assistance, job skills training, counselling and outreach work. The SBCWC also does research and advocacy. On-site partner organisations increase the range of services to clients.
Achievements
Awards:
- 2001 Certificate of Excellence from the Impumelelo Innovations Award Trust;
- 2002 White Ribbon Award from Women Demand Dignity;
- Department of Social Development Certificate of Appreciation for excellent services rendered towards ending violence against women.
International presentations of the SBCWC as a best practice model:
- 2005 United Nations, New York - panel discussion to coincide with the launching of the UN Secretary-General\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s in-depth study on all forms of violence against women;
- 2006 Kampala, Uganda - conference, Strengthening regional work on gender-based violence;
- 2007 Bergen, Norway - keynote speaker at the National Gender Conference;
- 2008 Edmonton, Canada - 1st World Conference of Women\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s Shelters.
Accomplishments:
- The SBCWC has a good balance of consolidating existing projects and bringing new ventures on board.
- The number of national and international visitors is ever increasing and includes HRH Princess Anne, the First Lady of Iran, US Ambassador Karen Hughes, a delegation of Tunisian women who were part of the SAWID conference; a delegation from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; the UN Ambassador on Housing, Miloon Kothari; and Indian Minister for Women and Children, Renuka Choudhury, with a delegation from the High Commission of India.
- The SBCWC is being approached by many local and overseas universities to provide student placements, as they see the Centre as a unique opportunity for students to experience partnership-in-action in the provision of a range of services combating gender-based violence.
- The SBCWC was asked in 2008 by the Worcester Municipality and Dept. of Social Development to open and run a new shelter in Worcester.
- The SBCWC is enjoying and benefiting from its continually growing network of support. The people who are committed to the Centre and contribute in their unique ways are a tremendous source of inspiration and ensure that the Centre is always developing and expanding its projects and outreach.
Programmes
- Shelter and second-stage housing for abused women and their children
- Shelter in Worcester
- Legal Advice and Training Project
- Economic empowerment programme
- Intake coordination and training
- Kitchen and catering
- Research
- Partnership coordination
Formal Affiliations
- Member of the Western Cape Network on Violence against Women; the GBV Prevention Network, and WANGO (World Association of Non-Government Organisations).
- Partner organisations at the Saartjie Baartman Centre include After-hours Child Care Centre, Activists Networking Against the Exploitation of Child Domestic Workers (Anex CDW), Gender DynamiX, Khululeka, Lifeline/Childline, Rural Education, Awareness and Community Health (REACH), SANCA, The Trauma Centre, W C Network on Violence Against Women.
Goals and Objectives
We have established an integrated and comprehensive one-stop centre for women and children who are survivors of gender-based violence.
Immediate objectives are to:
- Manage an effective and co-ordinated one-stop centre partnership that provides a comprehensive range of services for abused women and children.
- Establish, through research, a best practice intervention model to challenge and end violence against women and children.
- Provide effective community outreach work to end violence against women and children through preventative and awareness programmes.
- Develop an effective networking relationship with other organisations, networks and tertiary institutions that advocate and seek an end to violence against women and children.
- Promote research and advocacy on gender-based violence in order to influence policy makers and society in general.
