The Nisaa Institute for Women’s Development in South Africa has been a grantee partner of the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) since 2010, and to date has received US$15,000 in grants. AWDF has supported Nisaa to air ‘Change the Tune’, which comprises of selected pre-packaged radio programmes addressing issues around gender and gender based violence via selected community radio stations within the Southern African Development Community. The goal of ‘Change the Tune’ is to inform and engage listeners on issues of violence against women through active and critical dialogue. Nisaa has been successful in this endeavour. Feedback from listeners included the following:
“Thank you for the motivations you are giving to women on Inanda FM. I was also once married and in abusive relationship and can therefore relate to most of the things you are referring to. I have been separated from the man for 5 years, he does not support the kids nor see them, he refuses to sign divorce papers although, I have pleaded him too, for couple of times. When i go to the local magistrate, I get told I need to know where they can get hold of him as he is my husband. Sometimes the staff at the Magistrate, rub it on, now I understand why most women end up in jail and I still consider myself that I did not end up in jail for killing my perpetrator. It is so sore, only a person who has been there will understand it. I am still suffering, as I am still legally married to him.”
In November 2013, Nisaa published ‘Rising Up Moving On – Women Writing Our Lives’ with the support of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and OXFAM Deutschland. This book is a testimony to the incredible work that Nisaa does in supporting women survivors of violence, and a credit to the women who have indeed risen, and moved on from abusive relationships. This book is also equally inspiring because the women who so bravely shared and wrote their stories are women who were not previously writers, yet through Nisaa’s supportive writing retreats have now been able to add to the collection of knowledge documenting African women’s stories. Sima Diar, Advocacy and Research Manager for Nisaa in describing the book stated:
“The book highlights the journeys of many women (of different races and different backgrounds) as they moved out of their abusive relationships. The book looks to inspire and motivate people to talk about violence against women, to encourage women currently in abusive relationship to seek help and to provide hope by emphasising that there is a way out“.
Download the book for free here.
