On the 4 December 2007 we had to attend a networking meeting and facilitate a workshop in the community at the same time, so the group split intotwo parties.

Johanna and Ma Joyce facilited the workshop in Kwamandkosi Community Hall and Maxie was in charge of the registration process.

Michelle, Flo, Jemina and Pil went to the Social Services office in Beaufort West to attend the network meeting.  Both events were arranged by Mr. Kilani, who attended the networking meeting.

At the networking meeting the following organisations and goverment departments were present:  the Department of Land Affairs, NICRO, the Karoo Gender Educational Programme, Centan Karoo Gender Forum, Karoo Centre for Human Rights and Mr. Kilani from Beaufort West Legal Advice Centre.

Michelle and Flo started by talking about about Rape Crisis Cape Town, what the Stop the Bus campaign is all about and the connection it hopes to build between Rape Crisis Cape Town and the rural areas of the Western Cape.

Afterwards the discussion began and we talked about the problems Beaufort West is dealing with, such as people not knowing their rights or not knowing what do after someone has raped them, NGOs need more skills training in vicitm support and the police need training in how to deal with children and people in crisis.  We began to share ideas about solutions to these problems and what could be done in future.

Afterwards we went to Multi Purpose Centre to hand out pamphlets. The SAPS had spent the last three days at a youth camp so there was a lot of people at the centre, and some of the youngsters from the camp went up on stage and performed.

We gave the mayor of Beaufort West, Juliet Jones, a pamphlet as well.

Jemima and Michelle talked to some of the people and they met a woman from Shogolola who works with youth.  She said there was a strong need for them to get information on rape and what Rape Crisis was doing.

At the workshop there were only a few partipants and one of them was Ouma Maria, who is 95 years old.

Even though it was a small group the outcome was very positive, we learned a lot about this community and there were a lot of good discussions.

After the workshop we all went to Beaufort West SAPS where we visited the victim support room and handed out leaflets to the police.

At 6 o’clock we had our debriefing, the day was discussed and we talked about the next day, which we are going to be spend in the Karoo National Park.  After the debriefing we had a nice dinner and went to bed.

Posted by pil on Tuesday, December 4th, 2007 at 2:58 pm.