Charities

16 Charities, 16 Days

Don’t look away. Help us Act Against Abuse

Support the 16 Days of Activism from 25 November to 10 December

Did you know that more women and children are abused in SA than anywhere else in the world?

Our contribution: on each day of the 16 Days of Activism, a Non Profit Organisation that supports victims will be receiving a donation from The Foschini Group.

In addition, to highlight their valuable work in the fight against abuse, SAfm have partnered with us and will be interviewing each of the 16 organisations during the 16 Days of Activism.

Tune in to SAfm 104-107 at 13.05 each weekday between 25 November and 10 December and listen to Otherwise with Nancy Richards to find out more about the organisations being funded and how you can make a difference (stream live via www.safm.co.za ).

The organisations

The organisations featured in the 16 Charities, 16 Days Campaign are registered on GreaterGood South Africa’s social benefit networking website – www.greatergoodsa.co.za   – featuring over 1,300 causes and public call-to-action campaigns. The website makes it easy for people to connect with and support registered South African non profit organisations with their time, skills, reward points, goods and money.

Applications received Accepted for R20,000 donation Accepted for R5,000 donation
Africa Cares for Life X  
Alpha Trauma Centre X  
Bee Courtwise X  
Child and Family Welfare Society X  
Chubby Chums X  
Durban Children's Society   X
Engender X  
Grace Help Centre X  
Grip   X
Ilitha Labantu   X
IThemba Rape and Trauma Support Centre X  
Kids Haven   X
Masisukumeni Women's Crisis Centre X  
NeoBirth X  
Operation Bobbi Bear X  
Patch X  
Safehouse-Helpnet X  
St Anne's Home X  
Tsenang Trauma Centre X  
Umtata Child Abuse Centre X  

* R20,000 donation = donation + interview.
* R5,000 donation = donation and no interview (but still included on the site).

Important information

How to spot signs of abuse in adults (www.ehow.com)

  • Look for signs of fear in the victim when he or she is around the suspected abuser.
  • Note whether the victim makes excuses for the suspected abuser's anger or violent temper.
  • Look for signs of alcohol or drug abuse by the victim or the suspected abuser.
  • Find out if either the victim or suspected abuser has a family history of abuse.
  • Note whether the victim displays an unhealthy dependence on the suspected abuser, either financially, socially or emotionally.
  • Look for bruises, limping, sores or poor health.
  • Consider frequent or unexplainable absences from work or a decrease in productivity as signs of possible domestic violence.

How to spot signs of abuse in children (www.childwelfaresa.org.za)

Any unusual change in the behaviour in a child can be a sign that some form of abuse has taken place. This would include withdrawal (wanting to be alone and not mixing with friends or family members) or regressive behaviour (such as unusual bed-wetting, suddenly failing at school or unexplained bouts of anger).

What to do: For a list of organisations that support victims of abuse, click here.

From victim to survivor (www.brokenspirits.com)
The way a person handles a stressful situation, such as a domestic violence attack or rape, can vary from person to person. However, the emotions expressed tend to be similar in nature. The following is a list of emotions and feelings that tend to be present after abuse has taken place.

– The emotions of the abuse survivor

Guilt:
Very often, survivors will recall particular situations and make statements like "I should have known…." Or "If only I hadn't…." Sometimes, it is easier to blame their own behaviour, then to admit that their abuser was truly to blame.

Shock and Disbelief:
Sometimes, the survivor will have an incredibly hard time facing the fact that the abuse has taken place. Often, the survivor will make excuses for their abusers behaviour.

Shock and Disbelief:
Sometimes, the survivor will have an incredibly hard time facing the fact that the abuse has taken place. Often, the survivor will make excuses for their abusers behaviour.

Lack of Control:
During the attack, the victim was entirely without control. This fear of helplessness may extend into other aspects of their lives, for varying amounts of time.

Fear:
Fear is the biggest tool used by an abuser to receive and maintain control. This fear is not only of bodily injury but of death as well. Many survivors say that the reason they didn't fight back, or did not receive help right away because they were fearful that their abuser would injure or even kill them

Humiliation:
The survivor may feel dirty and ashamed, especially in cases where sexual abuse has taken place. Many things that took place during the abuse can be hard, or embarrassing to talk about.

Branded Syndrome:
The victim may feel that everyone around him/her can tell that they have been abused. In cases of male victims, the abuse itself is not nearly as bad as the fear of other people finding out about the abuse.

Anger:
Anger is a common feeling that develops after an attack. Anger is a healthy and common reaction for a survivor, as long as the anger is not aimed at themselves. Anger can be a helpful tool for regaining the strength and the courage needed to get back control of their life.

Physical symptoms:
Aside from the symptoms associated with the abuse itself, some other physical symptoms will develop that are directly caused by the emotional stress. Some common physical symptoms are: muscle tension, headaches, stomach pains, nausea, appetite loss, sleep disturbances, fatigue, and nervousness.

Feelings most frequently experienced following a sexual assault

Fear of:

  • Being alone
  • The rapist returning
  • Places and people that remind of the assault
  • Others finding out
  • Men, or women, in general
  • Having to report the crime, or of going to court
  • Their own anger
  • Going to sleep

Guilt for:

  • Having "caused the rape"
  • Not fighting more
  • Being "stupid" enough to get into that situation
  • All the feelings they feel

Anger at:

  • Society and the legal system
  • Significant others for not understanding
  • The abuser
  • The disruption in their life

Shame and embarrassment:
The feeling that everyone can tell, just by looking at them, that they were the victim of an assault

Betrayal by:

  • Abuser
  • Significant others

Lack of trust:
In their own ability to make judgments

Powerlessness and depression leading to feeling:

  • As if things will not get better
  • Totally victimized
  • Helpless

Victim survivor rights

  1. You have the right to decide what happens in your life at any time
  2. You have the right to decide what you want to do about the abuse. People can give you options, but the decision is entirely yours
  3. You have the right to decide whether or not you will report the crime to the police and how you want to report it.
  4. You have the right to decide who will know about the abuse and when.
  5. You have the right to be informed at any time by the police and/or the district attorney as to the progress of your case at any time
  6. You have the right to have a support person with you at all times, and you have a right to choose who that person will be.
  7. You have the right not to be a "victim" for the rest of your life. You were a victim, but now you are a survivor.