We teach women, men and children to be strong and that there is no disgrace in being a survivor of sexual violence. Rape has nothing to do with sex but with power. Rape tortures and humiliates the innocent. We hold talks at companies and schools, teaching children about a good touch and bad touch and that they should report any abuse or danger they are in, and teaching adults about forms of abuse
and myths surrounding rape. We bring comfort and restore dignity to victims when we give them a comfort pack with personal care products, clean underwear, sanitary pads and a soft toy, sweets, chocolate and a juice. This may seem like such a small thing, but it gives back dignity to a person when they can wash themselves off and put on clean underwear again. The children open up to the trauma workers more once they get the soft toy in their arms to hold. Even the adults tightly hug the teddies they receive. We have developed a large network of centres where free counselling can be obtained and of safe havens, trauma centres and children’s homes that we give aid to. We also aim to have 300 informal support groups throughout South Africa in the next two years. The informal support groups give victims a safe place to continue healing after the trauma counselling is given. WAR has a policy of using 70 % of donations received for the beneficiaries. There are obviously administrative costs but we keep them as low as possible as we are here to help the community, not make a profit. More information can be obtained at www.war.womanagainstrape.co.za. We are grateful for people like you who support us in what sometimes seems to be an insurmountable situation in our endeavour to bring some comfort, hoping to make the difference, and allow us to proceed with our community outreach mission.
