HOPE Africa disaster relief

HOPE Africa continues to play a pivotal role in raising awareness of gender-based violence in ACSA, with bishops, dioceses and at the local parish level. HOPE Africa has contributed to the development of tools and facilitation guides for church leaders on how to address GBV and gender justice within the church. HOPE Africa’s work has guided the following studies on the role of the church in GBV: “Sexual Violence in South Africa and the role of the Church” study in 2013, “Waiting to Speak-Survivors of sexual violence” study in 2014 and “Exploring Gender in the Anglian Church of Southern Africa” survey in 2015 have informed HOPE Africa approach to address gender dynamics and GBV in ACSA.

More recently we are partnering with Tshikululu Foundation as well as Episcopal Relief and Development in educating, raising awareness and walking alongside victims to find healing and closure from past trauma’s through telling and sharing of stories.

The Anglican Church is also partnering with other denominations through the South African Council of Churches to increase our efforts in changing of mindsets in our communities. This is done through interfaith candlelight services, marches, walks and giving people a platform to share their stories.

During this period of 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence and Femicide, we donated sanitary packs which will be distributed to various shelters, Children’s Homes and survivor support groups.

The president of South Africa has declared GBVF a secondary pandemic, alongside Covid-19 in 2021. Many cases could not be reported as people were in lockdown with the perpetrators and had nowhere to turn to.