Taking ownership of their communities, overcoming the daily challenges and making a visible difference are just some of the inspirational stories that will be shared by 200 women who have been part of the City’s Women for Change programme over the past year. 

The programme was previously known as the Women in Rental Stock.

The women are part of the Artscape Women Humanity Arts Festival which is in its 11th year and celebrates women while bringing all people together.

‘Our women for change are tenants in the City’s rental stock and they help us to build safer, more nurturing and more empowered communities. It was initiated last year to address some of the social ills in society and since then, these women have become shining beacons of hope,’ said the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security; and Social Services, Alderman JP Smith.

Since the launch of the project in July 2016, more than 800 women have been recruited, trained, and deployed in nine areas to help uplift areas where City-owned rental stock is situated. This is being done through addressing the environmental and socio-economic challenges in these areas.
The women were employed through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and were tasked with:

• identifying and helping to address safety concerns in their environment
• logging service requests related to the upkeep of their buildings and surrounding streets, including littering, dumping, and graffiti removal
• providing home-based care services to the elderly
• identifying individuals at risk of social challenges like truancy, substance abuse and domestic violence and linking them with relevant services
• The women received training and education in disaster risk management, foetal alcohol syndrome, domestic violence, wellness and health promotion, solid waste management, self-defense, approaching disability in a sensitive manner and leadership.

‘I am proud of these women who have brought about positive change in their communities and who will be sharing their success on a day that celebrates all women. By collaborating with the women in these areas we are ensuring safer communities. This is in line with the City’s Organisational Development and Transformation Plan which is helping us to driver safer communities and to ensure that we enhance service delivery,’ said Alderman Smith.

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