QALO Shelter Shoe Box Project needs your support today

The evidence is pervasive that women and children in South African society are in need of protection from gender-based violence and human trafficking.

Many make the brave decision to leave abusive and unsafe situations but often flee with nothing.

Some find shelter at the estimated 22 NGOs offering women and children emergency shelters in Gauteng.

These organisations do an extraordinary job providing food, shelter, counselling, skills training and other support services to these vulnerable women and children.

The one thing the NGOs cannot provide, however, is the reassurance that the wider community cares about them and their frightening circumstances.

This is the idea behind the Qalo Shoebox Project. Qalo, in conjunction with Soul City, aims to fundraise for and distribute 500 ‘dignity’ boxes to women’s shelters in Gauteng during Women’s Month, August 2018. These ‘dignity boxes’ will contain necessary toiletries and will be beautifully decorated by members of the wider community.

The Qalo Shelter Shoe Box project aims to offer, through the gesture of ‘dignity boxes’, concrete proof that we do care

On arrival at the shelter, we would like every woman, as they are processed by the shelter’s reception staff, to be given a box containing the essential products that a woman needs to preserve her dignity and sense of bodily pride.

Each box (cost R 200.00) will contain:

• 1 toothbrush
• 1 jar Vaseline
• 1 bar of soap
• 1 small bottle shampoo/conditioner
• 1 nail brush
• 1 tube lip balm
• 1 packet of sanitary pads
• 1 tube lipstick
• 1 bottle deodorant
• 1 bottle nail polish
• 1 packet of tissues
• 1 tube of toothpaste
• 1 tube hand cream
• 1 face cloth

We want these vulnerable human beings to use the contents of the boxes, beautifully and thoughtfully decorated by caring young women in the community, as a symbol of their new beginning defined by dignity, optimism, love and hope.

Proposed distribution of boxes: Saturday 25 August 2018

Number of boxes: 500

How can you get involved?

• Donations

Each box will cost R 200 to fill. Any amount is most welcome. Please spread the word in your community organisations, NPOs, churches, mosques and synagogues etc.

First National Bank

Account holder: Soul City Institute NPC

Account number: 62734019343

Branch code: 210554

Swift code: FIRNZAJJ

Use as reference: Qalo

• Drop off your empty shoe boxes or decoration materials such as wrapping paper, glue, ribbons, paint, fabric at:

Soul City: 1st Floor, Dunkeld West Centre, 281 Jan Smuts Avenue, Dunkeld West

• Decorate your own boxes or set up your own decoration party and invite your family and friends. Soul City staff will have decoration and preparation days on Fridays starting: 3 August – 24 August.

For more information contact:

Soul City Institute: Tel: +27 11 341- 0360

Or email: agnes@soulcity.org.za; leah@soulcity.org.za or helenw@excelinenglish.co.za