Legal Aid for Victims of Domestic Violence in SA

Recognising that financial dependence on abusive partners often poses a significant barrier for women trying to leave abusive relationships, LvA developed an initiative designed to increase levels of financial independence for our clients. Through this intervention, women learn basic skills needed to either gain formal employment or to start their own small business. Session topics include how to write a CV / resume, interview skills, how to identify vacancies, basic labour law, budgeting and financial management and preliminary steps to starting a small business. 

The initiative was first launched in 2021 with over 80 women completing the intervention to date. Out of the 56 women who graduated in 2023, 18 have since secured employment, 14 have started a small business and 10 have taken other steps to better themselves including going back to school or enrolling in a professional training programme. 

When graduates of the most recent cohort were asked to reflect on the programme, here is what they had to say:

"I have learned a lot about myself. I learned to be disciplined and know that I can start something and finish it. I also also learned how to multiply the small amount of money that I receive by starting a small business."

-- Dudu*   

"These workshops gave me purpose to wake up in the mornings to come and attend, I especially loved the session on self-care as it taught me how to put myself first and not be a person who is taken advantage of by others."

-- Tshidi*

"I especially enjoyed the interview preparation session. I would normally go to interviews without being prepared, but now I have learned better."

-- Kgaugelo* 

"As a person who has never worked, I used to doubt myself a lot. Now I have gained my confidence. As a person who wants to have my own small business, the information that I received in the workshop will help me to progress in life."

-- Ruth*

"This programme gave me life. I used to be a person who had no purpose. I would wake up and just do nothing, but the motivation I got and the information I received helped me to start a small business.

-- Thembi*

We are so proud of each woman who completed this programme. These results are a testament to their individual and collective strength and resilience. We can't wait to see what they can do!  

* Names changed to protect client confidentiality

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A key pillar of Lawyers against Abuse (LvA) work is empowering the communities where we work by raising awareness around gender-based violence (GBV) and legal rights and remedies in cases of GBV so that victims and survivours can have meaningful access to justice and are able to hold government officials accountable for their obligations under the law. 

In 2023, LvA implemented a project where 44 women from the Diepsloot community, divided into three cohorts, were empowered and equipped to be social change agents within their own community. The women began by completing a four-day workshop series which explored the systemic, political and psychological aspects of GBV and the ways in which these intersect; and the legal rights and remedies available to GBV victims. On the final day of the workshop series, participants were guided through a series of exercises that allowed them to reflect on their past experiences, the knowledge they have gained from the workshop series and how they plan to move forward. Graduates from each workshop series were then invited to establish a community action group where they could be further capacitated to become agents of change within their community in the area of GBV. LvA facilitated six capacity-building sessions with each action group on the following topics: the practical aspects of community mobilisation, project planning, effective intervention design, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation, conflict resolution and self-care. Empowered by the knowledge and skills acquired during the initial workshop series and subsequent six capacity-building sessions, each community action group then conceptualised, planned and executed an outreach initiative in the Diepsloot community, reaching a total of 885 community members.

Among the key results achieved through the intervention, participants exhibited improved knowledge of the systemic, political and psychological aspects of GBV, as evidenced by their engagement in workshop discussions and their ability to recognize and confront power dynamics contributing to their vulnerability. In addition, participants were able to unpack harmful gender norms and stereotypes and ways in which they contribute to the prevalence of GBV in communities. Notably, participants identified that these gender norms and stereotypes are not static and can be challenged, as they are societal constructs that are being upheld by systems and individuals such as religion, culture and patriarchy. Another key achievement is that participants reported learning the basics of project management, including how to identify a target audience and different monitoring and evaluation techniques, which can be applied to future initiatives beyond the scope of this project. Participants also reported a sense of confidence in their ability to assist GBV victims in the future based on what they had learned during the intervention. Lastly, the outreach events planned by the action groups were effective in reaching a wide range of Diepsloot community members on important GBV-related topics and raising awareness of LvA’s services. There also appears to have been a multiplier effect as some community members took pictures of the LvA flyer to share in WhatsApp groups they were a part of, while other community members said that they would share information about LvA’s services with neighbours, friends or family members who were experiencing abuse.

LvA staff have been encouraged by the commitment and ownership demonstrated by project beneficiaries both throughout the project and after its completion. Participants’ consistent attendance, active engagement and thoughtful contributions during both the workshop series and capacity-building sessions demonstrated a profound commitment to the learning process and intervention as a whole. Following the project's completion, some participants expressed a strong desire to collaborate with LvA on future awareness campaigns and even proposed conducting independent GBV outreach initiatives across Diepsloot, indicating a successful transfer of skills and knowledge for sustained community impact. Lastly, we have seen how the participants have become active agents of change in their community as they share information about LvAs’ services to neighbours and friends. One participant even accompanied another community member to LvA’s Centre for assistance with a protection order application. 

We are excited to see the impact that these women will continue to have in their community as they take a stand against GBV and support those around them in getting the assistance they need. 

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