Avon Justine Managing Director, Mafahle Mareletse
Author: TINTSWALO BALOYI, Johannesburg, (CAJ News)-Avon donated 600,000 rand ($37,982) to fund non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that work with survivors of gender-based violence in South Africa.
The pledge was made on the occasion of the 16-day event commemorating the absence of violence against women and children in the country.
A total of seven organizations will benefit from this donation, in addition to an additional donation of cosmetics and personal care products worth 120,000 rand.
Avon’s support for NGOs was launched in the context of Avon and the NO MORE Foundation’s global campaign, which raised awareness of non-physical abuse and provided survivors with tools to alleviate this scourge.
The organizations that received the R600 000 check were People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA), TEARS Foundation, Yokhuselo Haven, 1000 Women Trust, Saartjie Baartman Center for Women & Children, Ilitha Labantu, and Lawyers Against Abuse (LvA).
"The 16th commemoration of non-violence against women and children calls on each of us to reiterate our commitment to make the world a better and safer place, and to protect the world from its manifestations of gender-based violence," Avon Said Mafahle Mareletse, managing director of Turkey, Middle East and Africa.
He said that despite their financial constraints, partner NGOs have done an excellent job supporting survivors of gender-based violence and have become a lifeline for many women.
"We hope this donation will help reduce the burden and enable them to carry out their key projects," Mareletse.
Jeanette Sera, acting executive director of POWA, agrees that the increase in the scourge of gender-based violence has caused more survivors to rely on their services, which in turn puts a lot of pressure on limited finances.
Therefore, Avon’s donation will greatly help enable POWA to support thousands of women in need of services.
"Combating gender-based violence requires every sector of society, whether it is the public sector, the private sector or civil society, to stand up and support efforts aimed at combating this threat," Serra said.
To support abused women, Avon also donated US$1.35 million in grants to non-governmental organizations around the world to fund a lifelong support project after abuse on the occasion of its 135th anniversary.
In the past 15 years, Avon has donated US$80 million to end violence against women and girls. More than 14.2 million women have benefited globally.
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