2011 Report - Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children

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Another important evaluation tool is recording testimonies of the women who have used our services. This takes the form of voice, photographic as well as digital recordings of their experiences of gender-based violence and how they are dealing with their situations. The women’s stories help us to assess the extent to which our services have supported them in their recovery. During the past year, we undertook a digital diaries project, which involved eight shelter women recording their experiences of abuse and recovery, over a period of three months. Participants described the diary recordings as being cathartic and helping with the healing process. This culminated in the production of the Centre’s second movie Beyond the Shadow: Video diaries of women survivors of gender-based violence. The movie was screened at, among others, Norway’s National Gender Conference in April 2011, which the Centre director attended. We also facilitated a photographic project run by photographer, Warren Nelson of Mirror Images which helped participants with the process of self restoration by encouraging self-reflection through the photographs. We are in the process of writing up part two of the development of the Saartjie Baartman Centre. This report 16 2011 Annual Review is important as an M&E tool, as it informs our existing and new services. It also serves to inform government and other organisations in the sector about the one-stop centre model. Highlights of the report will include evaluation, strategic planning and restructuring processes, changes in the Board of Management, development of Centre and partner projects, successes, challenges, and lessons learnt. Over the past year, the research project facilitated students conducting research at the Centre. The students were attached to institutions such as the University of Cape Town, University of the Western Cape, University of Stellenbosch and Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Other projects undertaken included coordination of the use of the Internet by shelter and second-stage residents, and running a library for our resident women and children. These have proven to be extremely empowering for the women, as they are able to search and apply for jobs and accommodation, and communicate with the outside world via the Internet. Capacity-building initiatives included attending a filmmaking course run by UCT’s Centre for Film and
Media studies and a workshop hosted by Women’s Net, who co-ordinated funding for the digital diaries project on behalf of Take Back The Tech! Small Grants (TBTT). Here, we presented our projects and exchanged social media networking skills. I was interviewed on behalf of SBC by Special Assignment (SABC 3) for a three-part show about gender-based violence, in which SBC was featured. During the year ahead, the research project will continue with its monitoring and evaluation process and writing up of the development of the Centre. We intend to raise funds so that we can continue with existing projects, including digital diaries as well as embark on future identified research projects. We hope to work in closer collaboration with surrounding universities and colleges. I would like to take this opportunity to thank participants of the digital diaries, and photographic projects for courageously sharing their most painful experiences in order to help others. Thank you to TBTT for funding the digital diaries project and Shelley Barry of twospinningwheels productions for facilitating the project. Thanks to Laura Mannie whose help was invaluable throughout the process. Thank you also to Warren Nelson for volunteering his expertise and time to undertake the photographic project, Mirror Images: Remembering Me. In closing, I wish to reaffirm our commitment to oppose violence, especially against women, children and other vulnerable groups. One of the challenges we face is to get all stakeholders, including NGOs, CBOs, government and the corporate sector to work together in our endeavours to create a society that is free of violence and where everyone enjoys equal rights. 2011 Annual Review 17
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2011 Report - Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children

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