Alison Schroder is one woman on a mission to end gender-based violence. As this month marks 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children, Alison and Cares KZN work tirelessly to protect and help people – especially women and children – to survive, recover and rebuild their lives.
Based in Durban and serving the city and KZN, Cares has been around for more than two decades. The organisation initially operated as a ministry of Christian Revival Church (CRC) Durban that Alison Schroder and her husband, Glenn, founded 25 years ago. But, the work they could do was limited.
“Eventually, we realised that we needed to have a structured, vision-led company that could run as a supportive but separate arm to the church. This need became physical from the onset of Covid, followed by the floods and riots when thousands lost loved ones, their jobs, their homes and their faith,” says Alison, a teacher by profession who is passionate about children and has been instrumental in establishing Children’s Churches in CRC.
“We registered Cares as a public benefit and a non-profit shortly after these incidents, but our focus from the start has fallen on issues like poverty, education, child protection, disaster relief and economic empowerment. More recently, we have focused on rape and GBV, and have got involved with two initiatives launched nationally by our church movement – one called Walking in her Shoes, which we did during Covid, and this year’s Beauty for Ashes project aimed at making a difference in the lives of women by equipping and empowering them to deal with GBV and rape,” says Alison, who shares that their dream is to continue partnering with corporates and getting involved in initiatives to bring a shift in the status quo.
Partnering with corporates, individuals and CRC Durban, Cares has run workshops in schools, clinics and local communities as well as in Westville Correctional Centre where many of the women offenders are victims of rape and GBV themselves. Alison says that Cares has reached thousands through educating women on matters of protection and their rights, encouraging them to report incidents, creating a safe and welcoming space when trauma has taken place and organising professional help for them.
“We have lay counsellors, psychologists and social workers in our volunteer teams, and to date, we’ve handed out more than 400 Care Crates locally, which have necessary toiletries, information booklets, underwear and in some, a change of clothes. We’ve held two trauma group counselling sessions, and we are working on debriefing sessions for the professionals who deal with the victims.”
Another major project they’ve embarked on was the make-over of the Crisis Clinic at Addington Hospital.
“This wing has been sorely neglected, and we wanted to create a peaceful space where victims can start the process of reporting and healing. With our interior decorator, volunteers and the partnership of hospital management, we enhanced the kids’ room and women’s waiting and overnight areas in August this year.”
From painting and replacing window panes, electrical point covers, soft furnishings and bedding to stocking the rooms with books, toys and decorative items, Alison and the many hands supporting Cares transformed the rooms to something uplifting which offered comfort.
“We have undertaken to maintain these spaces and tackle another four areas and a bathroom in need of TLC. We hope to complete at least two of these spaces in the next six months. We continue to believe that through creating a tranquil and beautiful environment for women and child victims, we can bring hope and healing.”
Alison believes that where gender discrimination exists, and where the prevailing culture is one of disrespect and disregard for women, and a lack of honour towards fellow beings, violence, murder and rape will exist.
“In order to change the GBV pandemic in South Africa, we need to start conversations, change hearts and equip and empower could-be victims. The fact that women are embarrassed to speak out about trauma and feel that the judicial system, and that of the local authorities, is unsupportive and ineffective, is unacceptable. We need to create and sustain the best structures, using people who are called to assist these victims. We are fortunate also to have principled, proud men who want to start these conversations with young men.”
Alison says the challenge for any NPO is obviously supply and demand.
“It has not been plain sailing, but experiencing the effects of the Covid lockdown and isolation, and the resultant suffering of women regarding mental health and the increase in GBV, has given me more empathy for the people of Durban, especially women and children,” says Alison, who adds that although she was brought up in a middle-class environment and had a stable family life, she had to face violation three times in different areas of her life.
“After each of these events, I was fortunate to get professional help and the love and support of my church family. I also had the financial means to go on with life. So many don’t, and my heart breaks for them. It’s tough enough facing GBV and rape once, but when it becomes recurrent and the perpetrators are a danger, then survival is priority. No one is immune to having a stalker or a rapist haunt them. We may make better choices in life partners when brought up in a stable and loving home, but there are no guarantees, no matter your living environment or financial position,” says Alison, adding that any woman or child can become a victim.
“It’s time for us to stand up and challenge cultures and mindsets that entitle people to heinous acts where the lives of others are maliciously damaged or taken. Even if we can’t reach the world, we can never give up trying to curb the pandemic on our own doorstep.”
Details: www.careskzn.co.za and www.crcdurban.org.za
