Hope to Heal Foundation High Tea Gender Equality, Human Trafficking & Gender-Based Violence

Hope to Heal Foundation hosted a High Tea at the DaVinci Hotel in Sandton to empower men and women to be the forefront for Gender Equality and to end Human trafficking, Gender-Based Violence, and Child Abuse.

With the upcoming Global Action for Freedom Summit and the National Hope for Freedom Campaign, Ms Naidoo is inviting corporate, people in the private sector and global stakeholders to come on board to fund and partner with the projects. We have a massive task ahead, but nothing is impossible if we get the required support. We urgently require a minibus for the national campaign.

The highlight of the event was a very brave and strong-willed survivor of human trafficking sharing her story.

Miss Penelope Melama lost her mum at the age of six and had to live with her grandma. Due to neglect, at fourteen, she decided to go to her stepfather in hope, he will take care of her and give a good life. After a week of being with her stepfather, he told her to leave and go and look for her biological father. All she had was R20.00 and no were to go. Taking a taxi that cost R14.00 found herself at the Union Building in Pretoria.

A Nigerian official passed her in the park and noticed she was not herself, but she did not disclose that she had no place to go to because she was afraid. After a week of him passing her at the same place, she decided to confide in him because she was hungry and desperate for help. He offered to take her to his place and take care of her while she gets in touch with her family. She was hopeful that her family will contact her, but they never showed any interest in contacting her to see if she is safe and well. She felt that they did not care for her because they have not looked for her.

By accepting the Nigerian officials invite to his house, Miss Malema unaware that she will now be trapped in the system oh human trafficking and exploited in the most heinous manner. She was forced into sexual exploitation, drugs, physical and mental abuse. She including the many young girls lived in dire neglect with no medical care and was given one meal a day that consisted of a bit of pap and a small piece of steak.

The young women trapped by Nigerian officials had to work long hours to bring in the money and they did not receive a cent of the earnings. If they did not work hard enough to bring in more money, their lives were threatened, and they were physically abused. They were also sold numerous times to other perpetrators.

Penelope was fortunate to be rescued by the HAWKS when the building she and the many young women were held in was raided for illicit drugs. She was taken to a safehouse and was there for more than two years before because the case dragged on. During this time, she, once again, felt trapped due to no freedom of movement.

The system once again failed her because she did not receive professional trauma informed treatment, for instance medical care or detoxification from the substance abuse. Once the case was over, she was discharged from the safehouse and taken back into society to the very same place from which she had escaped as a child.

 Seema Naidoo adds, “Perpetrators identify vulnerable young women and lure them into fake promises, resulting in them being trafficked and exploited for profit. Like Penelope, there are thousands of other women who are failed by the system. Once perpetrators are convicted, survivors must leave the safe house, with no after support. Pennelope was never reintroduced to schooling or fully equipped to be reintegrated back into society. She had to start a new journey in life with nothing. This is what keeps thousands of other young women trapped in the trafficking system. They would rather be with their perpetrators because they believe there is no help for them.

This is how Perpetrators identify vulnerable young women and promise them a place of safety that results in them being trafficked and exploited for profit.

To the thousands of young women who we don’t know by name yet, needs help can contact the Hope to Heal Foundation for support on 078 906 7461 email info@hopetoheal.org.za

In her address, Prof Corné Davis from the University of Johannesburg, emphasised the importance of women empowerment, as gender inequality has been recognised as a key driver of GBV. She provided statistics proving that the prevalence of GBV is five times higher in SA than globally. She also encouraged women to stand up and claim their leadership roles and make the world a better place for all.

Mr Puneet Dhmija did a presentation on Human Rights. It is especially important for people to know and understand their human rights. He handed out books and DVDs to the guests.

Mrs. Patricia Vermeulen, Mrs. SA Finalist and the Hope to Heal Foundation Ambassador

The saying empowered women, empower women has been a driving force behind my collaborations and partnerships. I place a very strong emphasis on working with and supporting local women run businesses and initiatives and causes. My passion for female youth empowerment along with the right to education for all can be seen in my commitment to working with young women of all ages to better prepare themselves for the business world. A Woman of Inspiration is a risk taker. She is an activated person with the courage to create a better world for those around her. She is dedicated to the common good, even against great odds. Women of inspiration make decisions based on bringing their inner conviction into harmony with their outer acts.

I often get asked of all the causes I could have chosen to support why Human Trafficking, the answer is simple, I am immensely passionate about driving change in every action, or role I play. When it comes to Human trafficking, child trafficking, Gender based violence or any ca

use that involves giving a voice to voiceless that is my passion. I go to bed with dream and wakeup with a purpose. I have a corporate job as GM of Africa for the Cartrack group but being a changemaker is what gets me out of bed in the morning, making people aware of the challenges and the facts behind what is happening is communities and the realities of what to be aware of. Adding my voice to amplify the need for Corporate and civil society to get behind The Global action for Freedom 2022 summit to bring about global and societal change around legislation and ultimately successful prosecutions for the perpetrators of these heinous acts and the rehabilitation of the survivors giving them the chance at leading a successful and fulfilled life integrated back into society is something that I place at the forefront of my daily life. Alone we can do a little but together we can change the world.