Photography by Benny Gool
Thanks to our clients who have allowed us to take and publish these photos

The Black Sash
The Extra-Mural Education Project (EMEP)
The Cape Mental Health Society
Imizamo Yethu Health and Development Project
The 5in6 Project
The Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children
The Resource Action Group (RAG)
The Surplus People’s Project
Wola Nani
Women In Need (WIN)

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The Black Sash began as a women’s anti-apartheid movement – dubbed “the conscience of white South Africa” by Nelson Mandela. Times have changed and so has the Black Sash – it is now a registered non-profit organisation dedicated to ensuring the recognition and protection of everyone’s human rights by law and in practice. This is done through legal advice offices; and through advocacy work – the problems encountered form the basis of campaigns to improve legislation and the delivery of rights with a focus on social security as a means to address poverty.

The Extra-Mural Education Project (EMEP) is an independent, non-profit development agency, based in Cape Town, which uses an innovative extra-mural approach towards facilitating the holistic development of schools into community hubs in order to afford their children, youth, teachers and local communities direct access, in the areas where they live, to good quality lifelong learning, recreation and support services.

The Cape Mental Health Society is the oldest mental health society in the country. Its services have evolved over time to meet changing needs and circumstances. Believing that all people can be empowered to achieve the highest possible level of mental health and quality of life, it is committed to challenging socially restrictive, discriminatory practices that affect the mental health of all.

Imizamo Yethu Health and Development Project aims to raise the sense of dignity, self worth and empowerment of women in the community, through capacity building and skills development. It provides a place where women gather to share experiences and support each other; learn sewing skills in order to generate income; and attend workshops on health and development issues.

The 5in6 Project is a unique project which uses a daily savings tool on a street level, to mobilise, build group solidarity, and an independent voice for women, to end violence against women.

The Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children, based in Manenberg, was opened in 1999 by the Department of Social Services. There are currently nine organisations working in partnership at the centre providing a range of services for abused women and children. These services include a 24-hour crisis response, a residential shelter, substance abuse counselling, employment and job-skills training, therapeutic support for abused children and rape counselling.

The Resource Action Group (RAG) is a youth development NGO which fights against the syndrome of a “lost generation” that has permeated the collective consciousness of society. RAG aims to put South Africa’s marginalised youth on the map by assisting individual youth and youth-based NGOs with material, organisational and life skills in order to build their capacity and to become agents for social change in society. This is achieved through training, networking, support and advocacy.

The Surplus People’s Project was formed in the days of apartheid to assist people resisting forced removal from their land. SPP now works with communities in the Western and Northern Cape Provinces of South Africa, supporting their efforts to gain access to land and to use land to improve their livelihood. Research and lobbying on agrarian reform issues complement this grassroots work.

Wola Nani is a developmental community service providing agency to people living with HIV/AIDS. This is done in the form of counselling, home care, income generating opportunities and community awareness and education on issues surrounding HIV and AIDS.

Women In Need (WIN) aims to facilitate the emotional, economic and social development of street people, particularly women, by offering them an opportunity to make more responsible decisions about their own lives and those of their children. Ten people, who have formerly lived on the streets, are employed and trained to effectively serve the street community.