The Lions Club of Tokai handed over a mobile wifi router and a cellphone to the Victim Empowerment Project (VEP) facility at Steenberg Police Station on Women’s Day, Tuesday 9 August.
Mark Rossouw, the club president, says the relationship with the VEP began one year ago when the club handed over dignity bags to the facility – also on Women’s Day.
Rossouw says this first initiative resulted in the Tokai Lions Club forging a stronger relationship with the facility.
“The fight against gender-based violence (GBV) is important to Lions Clubs International. By offering assistance to the VEP Room, we could take a stand against gender-based violence and femicide,” he says.
The facility assists the police in any cases that involve GBV, violence against women and children, and the removal of children who are deemed to be at risk.
The facility is entirely operated by volunteers. Despite the invaluable and vital service it provides, the facility does not receive government funding and is reliant on donations.
Rossouw says when the club learned that the facility operated without any communication tools in terms of internet access or a telephone, they made it their mission to assist.
He says communication with the survivors as well as with the police and other essential services is key and the lack thereof can exacerbate a serious situation.
“When the volunteers at the facility are on duty, they are often compelled to make use of their private phones, especially when the assistance that they need to provide to a victim or victims are required outside of normal hours,” says Rossouw.
The funds needed to purchase the cellphone and the router were raised through an annual event hosted by Lions District 410W.
This event, known as “Walk In Heels” is held in March every year to coincide with International Women’s Day on 8 March. It encompasses men walking a distance in heels to take a stand against GBV.
“Several of the male club members from the Lions Club of Tokai took part in this year’s WIH event in March. A portion of the funds raised was allocated to the Lions Clubs International Foundation (a global Disaster Relief Foundation), and a portion of the funds was earmarked to assist a local recipient who assists survivors of GBV. The Steenberg VEP facility was then selected as the local recipient,” says Rossouw.
Together with the router and cellphone, the Tokai Lions Club gifted the VEP facility with a once-off supply of data and airtime. Rossouw says this was a collective decision due to practical reasons and sustainability.
The volunteers at the facility will provide their own data and airtime going forward.
