iTHEMBA Empowerment Initiative

Project Overview

The ITHEMBA Programme is a low-cost, community-based Gender-Based Violence (GBV) response initiative that strengthens and connects existing informal support systems into a coordinated referral and care network.

Rather than building new infrastructure, it formalises what already exists—community women’s networks, SAPS victim support units, clinics, NGOs, and social workers—into a structured system that improves continuity of care for survivors.

The programme focuses on:
crisis response, psychosocial healing, and restoration of survivor agency.
Economic empowerment is intentionally excluded and will be developed as a separate future programme.

Key Programme Highlights

• Coordination of existing informal GBV response networks
• Community champions for early identification and referral
• Structured support covering:
  • Emotional stabilisation and healing
  • Self-esteem and identity
  • Legal rights awareness
  • Personal agency and life skills
• Integrated referral pathways across SAPS, clinics, NGOs, and social services
• Delivered through existing community spaces (no new infrastructure)
• Estimated 300–600 survivors supported per year

Programme Approach

ITHEMBA follows a simple recovery pathway:

Crisis Response → Stabilisation → Healing → Restored Agency

The focus is on ensuring survivors move beyond crisis into structured recovery before any future economic interventions.

Target Communities

• Saldanha Bay – builds on an existing informal support network
• Khayelitsha – high-density urban context needing coordination
• Beaufort West – rural context testing low-resource delivery

Get Involved

We are engaging partners and funders to support implementation.

Request a meeting to access the full proposal and partnership opportunities.