Carnation House is a safe house created for women and children who are victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. The House acts as a safe environment for women who are courageous enough to leave their abusive partners, and start a new life for themselves and their children. Domestic abuse and violence is one of the fastest growing phenomena in SA and at the moment there are approximately 10
houses in the entire greater Cape Town area, of which only 5 take women and their children. Many women do not leave their abusive partners because they do not want to leave their children or risk having them placed in the system. Carnation House will provide them with a safe home where they can nurture their children while at the same time receive counselling and attend empowerment workshops to enable them to rebuild their damaged self-esteems. Of course, our biggest problem is funds. We have identified a suitable house with 8 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms which means we can accommodate approximately 40 women and their children. This may not sound like a lot, but given that there are countless women who endanger their lives by staying with their abusive partners (I see this all the time at the Police Station where I work), it may be a drop in the ocean but it is a start! The house we have found is R1.2 million and further money will be required to furnish it, make it child-proof according to the standards of the Department of Social Welfare and make it safe. There will be a full-time House Mother living on the premises and full time security guard at the gate. We will be doing fundraising for day to day expenses but we need assistance for the major capital outlay. Unfortunately, due to the sensitivity of the organisation, the address of the house cannot be disclosed as the security of the women and their children is of paramount importance and cannot be compromised.
