Vision:

To see women, men and children live their full potential in a society free from gender based violence where faith and justice are honored.

Mission:

To advance a coordinated, multi sectoral, culturally competent
restorative justice response to violence against women and
children by:

Being a resource to religious leaders, institutions and faith communities as they hold offenders accountable and ensure the safety and empowerment of victims/survivors by offering opportunity for truth telling and healing of individuals and families.
Challenging, from a theological perspective, patriarchal traditions and other root causes of intimate partner abuse and violence that destroys the dignity of women, children and men.
Encouraging the promotion of scriptural and theological teachings that encourage intimate relationships that set people free to live their full potential in supportive unions.

The South African Faith and Family Institute (SAFFI) recognizes that religion plays an integral part both in the continuation of Violence against Women and in its eradication. Thus SAFFI’s main objective is to build the capacity of religious leaders and faith communities in addressing issues of gender based violence in our communities and becoming a positive catalyst for change.

Such intervention requires both open critique of theological teachings and interrogation of sacred texts. This is done through workshops, seminars, dialogues and conversation. SAFFI seeks to offer technical support to faith communities in developing denominational or faith specific material on prevention and intervention which would include policies and procedural guidelines for working with victims / survivors and perpetrators of domestic violence (DV).

Through its work, SAFFI encourages the faith sector to work closely with existing DV service providers and the justice system in providing collaborative community based initiatives. The intention is that faith leaders are encouraged to dispel any misinterpretation of scriptures and promote sound contextualized faith resources.

Elizabeth Petersen holds a Masters Degree in Social Work (2006) from the University of the Western Cape, South Africa. She began her professional career in 1993 as a social worker at St. Anne’s Homes in Cape Town, a century old Anglican shelter caring for abused and homeless women and children, and became their Director in 1997. For the past 16 years, Elizabeth contributed extensively to the shelter sector. Her contributions include being coordinator of the WC shelter focus group for several years and playing a leading role in placing the housing needs of women exiting shelters on the national and local government agenda. Together with her colleagues in the shelter sector, the WC Transitional and Special Needs Housing Forum was established and she played a key role in helping to establish the Shelter Movement of SA.

She is passionate about women’s issues and the plight of the marginalized and has addressed various local and international audiences to help bring about gender & racial sensitivity and equality. Her quest for addressing root causes of violence against women let her to establish South African Faith and Family Institute in 2008 with the intention of creating a coordinated restorative justice response to domestic violence with particular focus on building capacity in the faith sector and holding perpetrators accountable for their abusive behaviour.

Her extensive work in the domestic violence sector and her faith commitment and church leadership enables her to bring these sectors together in the quest to break the cycle of violence and abuse. She has recently (Jul09) completed a Hubert H Humphrey Fellowship program in the USA which afforded her the opportunity to establish critical partnerships with colleagues in the Sates to advance the work in South Africa.

Patrons

The Reverend Mpho A. Tutu
The Reverend Mpho A. Tutu, an Episcopal priest, is the founder and Executive Director of the Tutu Institute for Prayer & Pilgrimage. Ms. Tutu has run ministries for children in the downtown Worcester, Massachusetts; for rape survivors in Grahamstown, SA; and for refugees from South Africa and Namibia at the Phelps Stokes Fund in New York City. She earned her MDiv from Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts and began her ordained ministry at Historic Christ Church in Alexandria, Virginia. Ms. Tutu is an experienced preacher, teacher, and retreat facilitator. With her father, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, she has authored the recently published book, “Made for Goodness”. The Reverend Mpho Tutu is the Chairperson Emeritus of the board of the Global AIDS Alliance, the Chairperson of the Board of Advisors of the 911 Unity Walk, and a trustee of Angola University. Ms Tutu is married to Joseph Burris; they have two daughters, Nyaniso and Onalenna.

Mpho's Statement of support for SAFFI
I am proud to support the work of SAFFI. The family is the core of our society. The model of family life is the model that we carry into our larger community. A flourishing society demands healthy family relationships. Families in which all can live in safety and without fear of violence. The shalom of the biblical promise begins with shalom in our homes. You too must support the important work that SAFFI is undertaking to restore health and wellbeing to our household.

Archbishop Thabo Makgoba
The Most Revd Dr Thabo Cecil Makgoba has served as the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town and Metropolitan of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa since January 2008.

Imam Dr Rashied Omar
Imam A. Rashied Omar earned an M.A. and Ph.D. in religious studies from the University of Cape Town and an M.A. in peace studies from the Kroc Institute at the University of Notre Dame. He also completed study programs in Islamic religious education in South Africa, Sudan, Pakistan, and Malaysia. He serves on the Western Cape Religious Leaders Forum Council.

Board Members

Barry Isaacs
Rev Barry Isaacs is an Ordained Christian Minister, Marriage Counselor and Conference speaker. He is Director of Three Cord Family Development Services, Chair of The Evangelical Alliance South Africa (TEASA), Regional Coordinator for Global Day of Prayer Transformation Network: Western Cape; Executive Member of Consultation of Christian Churches and Deputy President of Africa Arise Missions Ministry.

NOELENE BLEKKENHORST
Noelene matriculated in Grahamstown in 1973. She completed a BA Social work degree at UNISA and a Master of Social Science in Management and Supervision at Stellenbosch University. She has worked in the fields of drug rehabilitation and psychiatry. Also worked at Stellenbosch University for five years as social work lecturer prior to joining FAMSA in 1999 as the Clinical Manager. In 2001 became the Director of FAMSA.

VENESSA PADAYACHEE
Currently employed by the Head office of the National Institute for Crime Prevention and the Reintegration Of Offenders (NICRO) in South Africa, as the National Programme Manager: Advocacy and Lobbying. Her profession is Social Work. Has completed a National three year diploma in Human Resources Management, through the University of South Africa. Currently completing a Masters in Criminology (on court-referred programmes for perpetrators of intimate partner violence) at the University of Cape Town, South Africa.

Dr. Temba Masilela
Dr. Temba Masilela is the Deputy CEO: Research at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and has a specific responsibility for overseeing the implementation of the research programmes and improving the use and impact of our social science research.Dr Masilela's wide-ranging research interests include social policy, public management reform, social innovation, media and democracy, health communication, and stakeholder engagement.

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