Gender-based violence in South Africa is an ongoing and visible epidemic which continues to affect women and children each day. In response to this,Lee-Anne Germanos and Leanne Berger have founded and launched a website called The Embrace Project.
“This will be an online platform through which we sell art to raise funds for established grassroots organisations that are combatting gender-based violence and supporting victims and those affected,” says Germanos, a non-practising attorney and legal researcher into gender-based violence and the criminal justice system. The Embrace Project is driven by the idea that “change starts at home said Germanos and Berger”.
The platform aims to create awareness about the causes and prevalence of gender-based violence to help equip people with the knowledge needed to combat this form of violence which has become a scourge in South Africa. Artworks and jewellery have been donated by South African artists and creatives and these have been showcased online at www.theembraceproject.com since June 12.
Citizens can help the team to “creatively combat” gender-based violence by visiting the site and buying a piece of jewellery or art. All proceeds go to organisations such as FightBack SA and PASSOP, which fight gender-based violence in communities.
