NPO 57/870

Contact details:
Office: (+27(033) 342 2091
fax: +27 (086 518 3601)
Mobile: +27 (0) 81 856 9187
E-mail: reachoutwithlove@telkomsa.net

Donations:
NPO Number 57/870
Account Number - 9191875622
Branch number - 632005
International Code ABSA ZAJJ

Motivation
Most of our children in France are affected by extreme poverty, their parents being unemployed. A number are AIDS orphans, with some being HIV/AIDS positive. The situation in the area is totally desperate as there are many child-reared households.

Domestic abuse and rape occur in our local communities with alarming frequency. The majority of incidences are unreported and domestic situations remain unchanged because of fear and a lack of easily accessible emergency assistance. Some relevant statistics are as follows:
 
  • 1:4 or 25% of women in RSA are assaulted by their boyfriends or husband every week (UN Children’s Emergency Fund)
  • A woman suffers being battered an average of 39 times before she eventually seeks outside help. (460.05/1026 Burman, Katz and Partners, Port Elizabeth, paper entitled: Prevention of Family Violence Act 133/1993 Sept. 1994 pg. 2)
  • Every six days, the life of a South African woman is snuffed out by her partner (According to People Opposing Women Abuse “POWA”, Johannesburg, as quoted in the Cape Argus, April 14, 1998).
  • Proportions of dwelling reporting crime against children under 18 years of age: Rape 37.30%, Assault 9.3%, Murder 3%. (570.1/1240 The Nedcor Project Feb. 1996).

In the light of these alarming statistics, the need was identified for the provision of safe, confidential, caring, temporary shelter for women in distress and their children. Esther House opened in August 2001.

South Africa has the largest number of people living with HIV & AIDS in the world, approximately 5 million, and our infection rate is growing at approximately 1800 people per day. Almost 25% of all South African children under the age of 15 have lost at least one parent to AIDS. Hospitals and clinics are not coping with the pandemic and access to services for treatment is poor. It is estimated that if the most seriously HIV-compromised individuals were treated with ARVs (antiretroviral drugs) we could save between 500,000 to 1.7 million lives over a 5-year period. Approximately 25% of economically-active individuals within the country are HIV positive.