See our new projects in action

Khayelitsha, Cape Town

Our Gender Reconciliation programmes bring women and men together to speak about what is often left unspoken, and, perhaps even more importantly, to truly listen to one another.

The programmes are led by GenderWorks South Africa, now in partnership with Victory for Equality, and are inspired by the principles of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

There are no lectures and no quick fixes.

Instead, participants enter a brave process of storytelling, listening, reflection and mutual witnessing. They are invited to acknowledge pain on both sides, share their experiences and begin to understand how deeply gender-based violence is rooted in our families, communities and society.

The aim is not to place blame on one side or the other. It is to create a space where women and men can face what has happened, understand the pain on both sides, and begin the work of healing and change: together.

Participants leave with practical tools for better communication, greater empathy and a renewed sense of responsibility within their families, workplaces and communities. They can then carry these insights forward into their daily lives and, ultimately, into the wider world around them.

Empowering women is essential. But lasting change can only happen when both men and women are brought together and when we address the deeper roots of gender-based violence.

Real change begins when we are willing to come together, face what has gone wrong, heal together and create a difference for now and for the generations to come.

Khayelitsha is one of the largest townships in South Africa and is a community facing profound levels of poverty, inequality and violence.

This is why being present here matters.

Our programmes aim not only to reduce physical, emotional and sexual violence between women and men, but to go deeper: to explore where these patterns come from, what keeps them alive, and what it takes to transform them.

We believe that is where lasting change can begin.

This year, the first Gender Reconciliation programmes supported by Victory for Equality, in partnership with the Carasso Collective Foundation, have begun in Khayelitsha.

During our visit, we were welcomed by Pro, from Khayelitsha itself. He is our local facilitator and a member of our South African partner GenderWorks, and he is experienced in bringing this work into the community of Khayelitsha.

What we encountered was a community carrying enormous hardship and fear, but also extraordinary resilience, courage and quiet potential.

Khayelitsha reminded us that sometimes we have to be willing to stand close to the wound, not to look away from it, but to create the conditions for healing.

And the first programmes are now underway!

Artscape Theatre, Cape Town

August is celebrated as Women’s Month in South Africa. As part of the month, our local team hosted a special introductory session at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town: a first glimpse of the Gender Reconciliation work that lies ahead.

The gathering lasted only a few hours.

Yet the impact was striking.

There was openness. There was silence. There was storytelling and listening. And there was a powerful sense of recognition: an awareness of how much pain exists between women and men, and how deeply the need for healing is felt.

It was a small beginning, but one that showed us what can happen when people are given the space to truly meet one another.

And this is only the beginning.

Genadendal, Western Cape

Genadendal is located in the Overberg region of the Western Cape. At its heart is poverty, abuse, negligence by the government and very few chances for the people and its growing youth.

Here, another part of our work is taking shape: a new youth and community development centre.

When we first began planning this project, the site was a dumping field. But we were able to see something beautiful happening before our eyes.

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What was once an idea is becoming a real place: a safe and welcoming space where young people can learn, meet, develop new skills and discover opportunities for their future.

The centre will provide a home for youth programmes, workshops and educational activities, and will also form the foundation for future initiatives, from educational support and learning agriculture to offering safe community spaces.

The centre is almost ready to open its doors.

But at the heart of this project is something much simpler:

This would not have been possible without the extraordinary commitment and vision of Marshall Rinquest, a community development practitioner and youth leader who has been working tirelessly for the community of Genadendal and the surrounding area for many years.

We are also deeply grateful to the Carasso Collective Foundation, which has supported Marshall with a study bursary enabling him to receive professional training as a Community Development Leader. This investment strengthens not only his own work, but the future of the community he serves.

And none of this would have been possible without Marshall and his family.

We are incredibly grateful for their dedication, their trust and the love they continue to put into this work.

We would love, and truly need, your support to make the next steps possible.

We need specific donations for:

You can help Victory for Equality by:

• Donating through our website: victoryforequality.org/donate

• Connecting a fundraiser for Victory for Equality to an event at your company, school, club or association.

• Inviting Victory for Equality to speak at your organisation. I would be honoured to share our work, connect with new people and explore opportunities for collaboration.

Every contribution helps us turn an idea into something real: another programme, education, a safe space, an opportunity, a new beginning.

We return from our projects in South Africa with enormous gratitude.

• For the communities who welcome us.
• For the people with whom we work together.
• For our local team and our partners at GenderWorks, whose knowledge, experience and wisdom are matched by deep compassion and determination.
• For Marshall and his family in the Genadendal area.
• And for the Carasso Collective Foundation, whose support has helped make these first projects possible.

Most of all, we are grateful to everyone who believes that equality, healing and change are possible: and who chooses to stand with us as we work towards them.