As the country continues to observe Women’s Month, the Gauteng Department of Social Development in partnership with The Beauty Hub Academy provided a beauty therapy session to women at a shelter for victims of gender-based violence (GBV) in Springs, Ekurhuleni on Thursday.
The shelter cannot be named to protect victims from their alleged perpetrators.
The pampering was welcomed by Lerato Kamal, a Social Worker at the centre, who echoed that it would restore confidence to survivors so that they feel good about themselves.
“My message of support to all women of South Africa, particularly those who are in GBV shelters, you need to be strong and take your power back. You are in shelters to rebuild your lives and that of your children. Take each and every opportunity as it comes,” said Kamal.
She added, “Make use of the skills development programmes offered in the shelters to the best of your ability so that you exit with a proper plan that will sustain you.”
The Beauty Hub Academy, funded by the Department as an accredited training partner in hairdressing and beauty therapy, provided nail treatment, hairdressing, and massage to survivors at the shelter.
Supervisor of The Beauty Hub Academy, Bayeni Khulu said they pamper elderly people most of the time and was happy to work with survivors of gender-based violence.
“Our work is to pamper the vulnerable so that we eliminate the burden on their shoulders. This industry is about restoring people’s confidence, and make them feel good,” he said.
Social Worker under GBV Unit at Gauteng Department of Social Development Springs Office, Olga Phasha added that they organised the therapy session for abused women to be pampered mostly to relieve stress from the trauma they experienced.
“We want them to be free and comfortable and know that there is life after abuse. We are happy that our shelters are here to assist women to reconstruct their lives,” concluded Phasha.
