07 Apr 2016

Painful experiences often leave behind permanent wounds in any individual’s life. More often than not, the wounds are not only visible marks but there exist emotional wounds which are a result of torn feelings.

It is against this backdrop that Kagisano Society Women’s Shelter was established in 1998 to assist those who have gone through that ordeal. The shelter has two branches, one in Gaborone and the other in Maun.

Counsellor Ms Kitso Motlhale of Kagisano Society Women’s Shelter said during an interview that the women’s shelter accommodates and give counselling to those who were victims of domestic violence.

She said the shelter came at a time when gender based violence gained momentum and abused victims were able to find refuge in them.

“As a non-governmental organisation, our mission is to end gender based violence through the provision of temporary shelter, counselling, community education, outreach and advocacy,” she said.

She said the women’s shelter has admitted women who were abused and some with permanent disabilities.

She said victims were sheltered for three months before they could return home and that during this period, perpetrators and victims went for counselling together. She explained that after the three months, counsellors did follow ups on the well-being of the patient.

She said the type of abuse cases they dealt with were physical, emotional, economic and sexual.

“Most of our patients suffer emotional abuse and the deepest wounds left behind by emotional abuse often stay for a long period. It may cause passion killings, poor work and low school performance,” she said.

Ms Motlhale said they were grateful for the support received from the government, churches, as well as the public. She said on the international level, the European Union together with USAID continued to fund their projects.

Ms Motlhale said inspired by the Commonwealth Plan of Action on Gender and Development (2005-2015) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Ministry of Health carried out a research which showed that 67  per cent of women in Botswana were once abused in their life time and that 33 per cent of men admitted they once perpetrated abuse.

She said Kagisano society statistics show that they assist five patients a day.

Ms Motlhale said they came up with a television programme that ran on Botswana Television which was based on book stories told by courageous women who took the pledge to tell their experiences.

She said the programme has helped a lot of Batswana understand what domestic violence was all about. Ends