An estimated 50% of South African children are vulnerable to being abused by the age of 18, and every three minutes a child is reportedly raped. One third of those reported cases are committed by a family member or close relative. Zimele Wethu, a grassroots organization that creates self-sustaining communities by organizing women into self-help groups, has noted that children in KwaZulu-Natal Province rarely open up about their experiences of abuse. The lack of safe spaces for conversations about gender-based violence reveals deeply rooted cultural norms that silence victims and protect perpetrators.

One Day’s Wages partnered with Zimele Wethu to foster awareness of and dialogues about gender-based violence among a network of self-help groups. Recognizing that everyone must learn about gender equity from the time they are young in order to bring about generational change, both boys and girls were mobilized to join self-help groups and participate in discussions about gender-based violence. These groups not only offer safe spaces for members to discuss sensitive topics, but also provide opportunities to learn about financial management, savings and entrepreneurship. Through our partnership, 857 children and 1,283 adults better understand what gender-based violence is, how to prevent it, and what kinds of resources are available to survivors.