One Woman's Voice

WOMANKIND’s partnership programmes in South Africa help women in practical and supportive ways to meet – and overcome – the many and substantial disadvantages and challenges they face.

Of the many strong women who have found a voice as a result – here is just one:

Zeta was only 14 years old when she was violently raped by a boy in her class. When her mother discovered that she was five months pregnant, she refused to believe that the pregnancy was a result of rape and forced her to undergo a dangerous, illegal abortion. Zeta suffered severe complications and was taken to hospital. When she returned home she was immediately beaten, before being forced to return to the school where she had to attend classes with the boy who raped her. Understandably, she felt devastated and was no longer able to trust her family.

It wasn’t until 15 years later that Zeta sought counselling for the first time. By then she was the mother of a 3-month old baby, struggling to find a permanent job and still living with her parents. Zeta was determined to turn her life around and provide an emotionally stable environment for her daughter. The counselling she received at Rape Crisis Cape Town dramatically improved her sense of self worth and self esteem. She said that for the first time in her life she did not feel judged for what had happened to her, and that the counselling had helped her to open up and come to terms with her past. In fact, her counsellor was the first person with whom she shared the complete story of her rape.

The experience made Zeta grow in confidence – to the extent that she finally managed to move out of her parents house and take full responsibility for her daughter. Having joined the organisation some years ago, today Zeta is a valued member of Rape Crisis Cape Town’s staff, helping other women overcome the trauma through which she herself has had to pass.

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