We aim to create a Safe Space for victims of violence abuse & domestic violence, women and children. BACKGROUND
The victim of violence, abuse and trauma support organisation Dews of Quietness (DoQ) was founded and established by Ms. For the past twelve years Moeriedah Dien has poured her heart and soul and every penny into the organisation to build a safe, supportive, and nurturing place for wome
n, children and victims of domestic violence and abuse. DoQ provides support and relief to women who are victims of domestic violence and substance abuse by providing victims with safe and secure shelter. We have a strong focus on equipping women with the tools and skills needed for them to develop and rebuild their human dignity and self-esteem so that they may improve their quality of life and make healthier life choices and decisions. In addition, we at DoQ strive to protect and shelter children from households affected by substance, physical, mental, and emotional abuse. We do this by providing children with informative and educational workshops and teaching whilst simultaneously keeping children off the streets and ultimately improving their chance for a safer life free of violence, abuse and the trauma associated with domestic violence and substance abuse. PROBLEM STATEMENT
The lack of education, from basic literacy skills through to vocational training for abused women in poverty is a key contributing factor to the continuation of the cycle of poverty and abuse and violence against women and children. To breaking this scourge of violence and abuse in our community form the foundation and ethos of our daily activities, endeavours, and commitments. The problem that DoQ faces is support for the establishment of a base. We don’t have land to capacitate our work. The safe space that we are trying to build is constantly interrupted due to a lack of property. Having a safe and supportive environment is crucial to the recovery process of victims of abuse and trauma no matter the origin of such experiences. Support enables and allow victims to learn new skills of communication, reflection, and trust, and to rediscover the skills that have been violently stripped from their being. It is important to critically manage the trauma experienced by victims of abuse to prevent the manifestation of feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and low self-esteem. The creation of safe spaces become imperative to our daily activities and encounters with victims of abuse. OUR PROGRAMMES
The Organisation was established in 2012, and focus on counselling for youth and adults, an anti- bullying programme, cadet training as a measurement for children with behavioural programmes, a women’s group and a school enrichment programme. Our women’s group meet every Wednesday at the Steenberg Community Centre where we do arts and crafts and discuss issues that affect them. We invite guest speakers who share valuable knowledge, stories and experiences with the aim of equipping, skilling and building better understanding so that our women can better cope with the challenges of daily life in a holistically and socially responsible manner in our broader communities. Counselling is offered in conjunction with schools and referrals on a one-to-one basis, combined with a life skills component, and is extended to the parents of affected children. Our Cadet programme, sustained by our counselling programme, allow children to participate in cadet-drilling competitions with children from drilling schools across the city. Last year two of the schools) where the Organisation is involved, (Delta Primary and Lourier Primary) won first and second places respectively. Covid-19 bereavement and emotional trauma support is dearly needed, and DoQ has embarked on an initiative to create a call-in support line for Covid-19 affected individuals. To achieve this DoQ is partnering with eduACTION Community Education SA, a registered Non-Profit Company, to train and develop our women contact centre bereavement support workers and to manage this structure. This initiative is at a rapid planning stage and business support is dearly needed for airtime, data and associated costs or donations of old in working order laptops and cell phones to equip the support centre.
