Women rising above GBV

NACOSA celebrates the strength of the women who have found new hope through the Grow, Learn, Own (GLO) programme. This initiative helps women and young people aged 18-35 who are not in employment, education, or training and are at risk of gender-based violence (GBV) to achieve financial independence and personal empowerment. The programme aims to motivate and empower young people at risk or affected by HIV and/or GBV to move into study, employment, or self-employment. The programmes are tailored to each person’s needs, ambitions, and risk profile, providing support and mentoring throughout their economic empowerment journey. 

At 35, Julia Mazibuko, a single parent from Lethabong in Rustenburg, found herself unemployed, dependent on a child support grant, and emotionally strained. Her journey began at a community centre, where she was referred to the GLO programme. “The programme helped me to grow my business and improve my knowledge in marketing, financial management, and setting goals,” Julia shared. Julia grown broiler chicken and sell them within her community.

I now have clear long-term and short-term goals that I keep on looking at to see how far I have come.

A small business owner from Amandelbult, Clementine Sibanda, also found her path to success through the GLO programme. “The GLO extension made it easy for me to grow my business,” Clementine said. “I had the opportunity to sit down with a mentor and look at my business and all the challenges I was facing. The group mentorship and business skills training helped me set short-term and long-term goals to achieve in order to grow my business.”

Clementine’s experience is a perfect example of how the program can make aspirations come true because she currently runs her own company serving fast food to the locals.

Ngokoana Morokolo, a successful entrepreneur was referred to Seshego South African Police Services and Victim Empowerment Center. “Participating in the programme helped me acquire baking skills through the skills stream, and I was able to establish my baking business,” Ngokoana said. She teamed up with a friend and made use of the resources of a generous woman who had been assigned to train them in skills despite the initial lack of finances.

I couldn’t believe that I was finally going to be my own boss, operating in my own space. The business resources and skills training, as well as mentorship that I received from the GLO programme, changed my life.

Ngokoana’s determination led her to market her baked goods on the street, and her hard work paid off. With support from the GLO programme, including introductions to Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) and Limpopo Economic Development Agency (LEDA) stakeholders, she received further assistance in business registration and pre-assessment tests to identify additional support needs.

“I would like to share this message with all survivors of GBV: ‘The enemy doesn’t stand a chance when the victim decides to survive.’ At any given moment, you have the power to say, ‘This is not how the story is going to end.’ All thanks to NACOSA, I am now rewriting my story to be that of a testimony to many other victims that it is possible to rise above your challenges.” Shares Ngokoana

NACOSA’s commitment to empowering individuals through the GLO programme is deeply rooted in its core values: being people-cantered and committed to building value. These values  drive the organisation’s efforts to provide the necessary support and resources to those in need, ensuring that they can achieve their dreams, become financially independent and free from GBV.

As we celebrate Women’s Month, the stories of Julia, Clementine, and Ngokoana showcase the remarkable power and resilience of these young women. With support, they have tapped into their strength, overcome challenges, and are now leading the way in transforming their lives and uplifting their communities.