Continual funding provided by Anglo American's dedicated social investment arm, the Chairman's Fund, towards Bethany Home Shelter, is providing valuable support in assisting vulnerable women and children to be rehabilitated and reintegrated into society.

The Chairman's Fund recently granted R220 000 towards the operational costs of Bethany Home Shelter, a place of safety in Bertrams, Johannesburg, that cares for abused women and their children. The Fund has provided grants totalling R620 000 to Bethany Home since 2006.

The current grant will be filtered towards intensive counselling, outsourced skills training based on each woman's potential, assistance in accessing employment, and assistance in finding accommodation and start-up support.

Bethany Home currently accommodates up to 54 women and children, who are allowed to stay between six and twelve months, and sometimes longer if necessary.

Services offered to women at Bethany Home Shelter include intensive weekly counseling, skills assessments and training, placement of children in local schools or pre-schools, and assistance in the application for missing documents.

This assistance is subsequently ensuring that the women at the shelter become economically self-reliant, and do not return to abusive partners.

Bethany Home Shelter manager Bridget Edwards notes that the Chairman's Fund's support has significantly bolstered the effectiveness of the organisation's operations.

"Without the consistent support of Anglo American's Chairman's Fund, Bethany Home would not have achieved all it has during the past ten years. Thanks to the Fund, we have been able to cover administrative costs such as food, clothing, and transport fares, and ensure that we are able to provide intensive counselling and training for the women, and secure jobs for them when they leave.

"Bethany Home is extremely grateful to the Chairman's Fund, as their funding has proved crucial in empowering women with the opportunities to become self-reliant, and create a better life for themselves and their children."

The organisation forms part of an umbrella organisation called Little Saints of Bethany, which was founded in 1989.

Chairman's Fund Chairperson Norman Mbazima concludes that the Fund's support for Bethany Home Shelter is based on the real difference the organisation is making in the community.

"Anglo American maintains that each and every South African has the undisputable right to feel safe and cared for, and the care of vulnerable people is an important part of the way in which we direct corporate funding.

"The work being carried out by Bethany Home certainly aligns well with these objectives, as the organisation's innovative model is ensuring that disenfranchised women are provided with the means to overcome their current circumstances and forge happier and more prosperous lives."

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