WOMEN IN ACTION

WiA Launches Save a Tamar in Soweto

It is now 54 years since women took to the streets to petition against the apartheid laws which required Black people to carry “pass books” with them each time they left their compounds, homes or designated areas. Failure to produce a “pass” often resulted in the person being arrested.

This big march by nearly 20,000 women to the Union Buildings took place on 9th August, 1956. They sang a song called “Wathint’ abafazi wathint’ imbokodo uza kufa!, meaning “When you strike the women, you strike a rock, you will be crushed or you will die!”

Women in Action (WiA) celebrated women’s struggle in South Africa and welcomed all present to the “Save a Tamar” launch at the Cathedral of Faith in Soweto.
Addressing the packed church, Mrs Marcia Pires, founder of WiA, said abuse took away dignity and many women in society could not strike back at those who abused them.

“As Christians we uphold the Bible’s principles, we believe that man should lead the house and Psalm 128:3,4 speaks about the man who fears the Lord.” She pointed out that if children grow up in this kind of family environment it was unlikely they would suffer abuse or become abusive, since ‘Children see, children do – whatever we do in front of them they will try to do it as well’.

“Sometimes women are told that it is their fault that they were abused. They hear accusations from friends or family members, such as: Why were you walking alone?, Look at the clothes you’re wearing!, but what blame can be put on a child whom someone takes advantage of, in her or his very own home? We have to deal with the consequences of abuse and give emotional and spiritual support. Maybe you have been through abuse and feel despised, rejected by the community and even by God, but today we the WiA want you to know that you are a woman of value, of courage and know that today is the birth of a new year in your life,” Mrs Pires said.

Men came in large numbers to support women and the campaign against abuse. Directing some of her comments at them, Mrs Pires said: “Man, you are a man of character, a man of honour because we believe you have the responsibility and the power to change South Africa. You can act in the community, with your colleagues, on your way from work to join the cause of fighting against women and child abuse.”

A survivor of domestic abuse, Mrs Elizabeth Mabunda described how she lost an unborn baby after her husband beat her. Today however she has a happy and united family and can celebrate 26 years of marriage with abuse a thing of the past. Her husband, William urged everyone to change the way they looked at women.
“Let us fight this abuse against women and children and change the way we look at them with respect, as the bible says they were created from our ribs. Let us love and be a good example to them,” said William.

Mrs Dalene Bishop, from the Teddy Bear Clinic, a non-profit organisation protecting and assisting abused children, said they educated children about sexual abuse, giving therapy, counselling, assistance, love, comfort, safety and ongoing support.
The WiA choir presented their special “Save a Tamar” song which will be sung throughout the four-month-long campaign. They also made key ring dolls which were sold with all profits being donated to the Teddy Bear Clinic.

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Why save a Tamar?

In an interview with Women in Action founder, Marcia Pires, Universal News asked about the significance of the new project ‘Save a Tamar’. The Bible records in 2 Samuel 13:1-21, that Tamar was one of David’s daughters who was abused by her own brother, Amnon. There are many Tamars in South Africa today – women who are physically, sexually and emotionally abused.

UNIVERSAL NEWS: How many members does the WiA currently have?
MARCIA PIRES: We have about 300 pastors’ wives.

UN: What is your vision as WiA?
MP: To interact with our community and to empathise with their needs and daily struggles. We want to give back to the communities where our husbands work.

UN: What is the motive behind the ‘Save a Tamar Campaign’?
MP: To focus on the subject in such a way that each one of us feels the responsibility to reach out to anyone, anywhere who has been directly or indirectly affected by abuse from any source.

UN: How do you plan on fi nding the Tamars of today?
MP: We will raise awareness of abuse at different levels and call upon women to stand up and not accept it as a natural course of life. We will motivate males to be role models for youngsters in their neighbourhood and spread awareness of PSP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis) to prevent HIV after rape cases.

UN: How have the woman from WiA prepared themselves in work with the Tamars of today?
MP: This goes back to our daily experience in the church of counselling and praying. Only spiritual strength can really free a victim of the ghosts of the past.

UN: The project will run for four months. What will happen to the Tamars when the project comes to an end?
MP: We hope to achieve a greater level of awareness and prevention and to deliver the message that any Tamar may count on our support to claim her life back.

UN:Abuse affects not only Tamar’s but their family members too. Will you be working with the families when you try to help Tamars?
MP: One is part of the other and if we are given an opening by the victim, we will give counselling if the family welcomes our intervention.

Join the Women in Action at the Cathedral of Faith in Soweto on Women’s Day – Monday,
9th August 2010 at 10am

Who is Tamar?

You may be wondering who is Tamar and why we need to save her!

I am very pleased to introduce to you our new WiA campaign that will be launched at a special meeting in Soweto, on 9th August, 2010. We will be taking a stand against the Abuse of Women and Children in our society and we will be looking at the matter, not from a feminist but from a feminine perspective, within the context of the Holy Bible and examining the purpose for which God has created women.

Tamar, as the Bible records in 2 Samuel 13:1-21, was one of David’s daughters who was abused by her own brother, Amnon. There are many Tamars all around us being physically, sexually and emotionally abused. Families are devastated as a result of it, lives are shattered by abuse and dreams are destroyed by regret and pain.

We will celebrate Women’s Day holding up the banner of peace. We will focus on awareness and bring comfort to those who have been victims of this experience. We count on you to support this campaign.

This is our Tamar, the symbol for our campaign. Watch this space to learn more about it. From now on, make your decision and help us to “Save a Tamar”.