A Sincere and Heartfelt Appreciation to the Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority (HWSETA)
In Recognition of Their Support for SayPro’s Victim Empowerment Programmes – In Alignment with the National Strategic Plan for Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP-GBVF 2030), 2023–2024
It is with the deepest respect and heartfelt gratitude that we, at SayPro, extend our warmest thanks to the Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority (HWSETA) for their impactful support and funding of our Victim Empowerment Programmes during the critical years of 2023 to 2024.
Your generous contribution and unwavering commitment to advancing social justice, gender equity, and the well-being of vulnerable individuals have not only elevated our capacity as an organization but have also changed countless lives across the communities we serve.
The support received from HWSETA was more than just a financial investment—it was a powerful statement of solidarity in the fight against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), a crisis that continues to affect women, children, and marginalized populations in South Africa. Through this collaborative effort, SayPro was able to take bold and meaningful steps in support of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF 2030, working toward a safer, more inclusive, and more just society.
Thanks to HWSETA’s support, SayPro was able to achieve the following milestones:
1. Capacity Building and Skills Development
We successfully trained dozens of emerging professionals, social workers, community development practitioners, and frontline responders in the core areas of victim empowerment, trauma-informed care, counseling, and support services. This not only created employment and learning opportunities but also contributed to the sustainability of victim empowerment services in under-resourced areas.
2. Community-Based Workshops and Awareness Campaigns
SayPro conducted extensive community dialogues, workshops, and education campaigns designed to address the root causes of GBVF. These initiatives focused on challenging harmful social norms, promoting respectful relationships, and creating safe spaces for survivors to speak out and access support.
3. Victim Support and Referral Systems
With HWSETA’s help, SayPro enhanced its referral systems to ensure that survivors of GBV could be quickly and compassionately connected to critical services such as medical care, legal aid, psychosocial support, and shelter. These services were made more accessible and visible to those in need, especially in remote and underserved communities.
4. Youth and Women Empowerment Initiatives
Recognizing the importance of prevention, we integrated gender equality education and life skills development into our programming—particularly targeting young men and boys, while uplifting women and girls through empowerment initiatives that promote independence, self-worth, and leadership.
5. Support for the NSP-GBVF 2030 Goals
SayPro’s Victim Empowerment Programmes directly contributed to the pillars outlined in the NSP-GBVF, particularly Pillar 1 (Accountability), Pillar 2 (Prevention and Rebuilding Social Cohesion), and Pillar 4 (Response, Care, Support, and Healing). This alignment ensured that our work supported the broader national goal of eradicating GBVF in our lifetime.
To the leadership, team, and visionaries at HWSETA:
Your trust in SayPro and belief in our mission has not gone unnoticed. Your role in helping us strengthen our victim empowerment interventions has created ripples of healing, growth, and transformation in communities that have long suffered in silence.
Your support is not only appreciated—it is deeply respected and profoundly felt by every person who has found strength, hope, and recovery through the opportunities you helped make possible.
As we continue our work in advancing the rights and dignity of survivors and building resilient communities, we carry with us the encouragement and momentum that your support provided.
Thank you, HWSETA, for being a true partner in progress. Thank you for standing with us. And most importantly, thank you for standing with the survivors.
With gratitude and respect,
The SayPro Team