It’s hard to believe that summer has passed and we are heading into Fall although our South African Friends recently wished us a “Happy Spring!” reminding us that they are heading into their Spring/Summer seasons. Everything we “know” to be real and true, everything we take for granted in the United States is not so in South Africa.
It has been a difficult few months for our TVEP friends who found themselves in a “crisis situation” this past July/August. Let us remind you that TVEP is the Thohoyandou Victim Empowerment Program whose mission it is to generate a zero tolerance towards all forms of sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, HIV and AIDS stigmatization in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. One of their very important programs, the ‘Access to Justice Project’ is in jeopardy due to rejection of their ongoing Open Society grant. No legitimate reasons were given for their exclusion of these monies and they are forced to consider the unthinkable: shut down this critical division of TVEP. This would mean “no more 24/7/365 trauma center services for victims of sexual abuse, child abuse, rape and domestic violence; no more follow up to encourage post-exposure prophylactics; no more monitoring of cases ensuring that everyone takes corrective action when necessary; no more helping victims through the difficult court system and pushing for a speedy trial; no more holding the system accountable; no more data collection to inform future interventions …” Think about it. No more assistance and support of victims in accessing their human rights! Shutting down this critical program is unthinkable.
Right now HFL needs something more important than your money. We need you to step outside of the box and to give us your ideas. We need your inspirations re: prospective plan(s) of action, suggestions for potential grants, proposals for ways to spread the word, ideas to help this essential program become self-sustaining. We have spent the last couple of months researching every aspect of the Access to Justice Project and have the information ‘at the ready’ right down to the cost per hour of justice. We are ready to listen to your ideas and/or to partner with you. Please think about it.
