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Gender Links

Gender Links (GL) is an award-winning organisation dedicated to promoting gender equality and women's rights through research, training, and advocacy across the fifteen countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Since its inception in 2001, GL has established its headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa, with additional offices in Mauritius, Madagascar, Mozambique, Lesotho, Namibia, Eswatini, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. In the remaining five SADC countries, GL collaborates with strategic partners to advance gender equality, end violence, and empower women and girls while promoting human rights for all.

 

The Mauritius office, registered in 2008, has grown significantly since its inception, playing a crucial role in conducting research that informs our advocacy and campaigns.

 

Our Areas of Intervention

  • Gender Justice:

We provide training to women from impoverished backgrounds and victims of violence to help them achieve economic independence. Our training programmes include entrepreneurship, literacy, self-esteem, and leadership development. We have recently opened a Halfway Home for young homeless female adults transitioning from children's shelters and the Rehabilitation Youth Centre (RYC). This home offers shelter for one year, connects residents with job opportunities, and supports them in becoming financially independent.

  • Gender and Local Government:

We collaborate with local authorities, including village, district, and municipal councils, to ensure gender-sensitive budgeting and decision-making. Our training for councillors focuses on incorporating a gender perspective into local governance.

  • Gender and Media:

We work closely with media houses and journalists to eliminate gender bias in the media and advertising. Our efforts aim to create a more equitable and balanced portrayal of genders in all forms of media.

  • Safe Haven Halfway Home:

Since its inception in September 2017, the Gender Links Safe Haven Halfway Home (SHHH) has provided refuge to 69 residents, including children from diverse socio-economic backgrounds and victims of various forms of violence, including physical, sexual, emotional, and economic abuse. Our mission at SHHH is to help residents make sense of their traumatic experiences and equip them with the skills necessary for a brighter future.

 

At SHHH, we welcome young women aged 18 and above who have endured traumatic experiences and are determined to change their lives. As a service-based, non-profit organisation, we offer support to the homeless, abused young girls, women victims of domestic violence, teenage mothers, and their children.

 

Accreditation Number with the National Social Inclusion Foundation: NCSRF/2017/0111

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Services offered
  • Training:

We offer comprehensive training programmes aimed at empowering women from disadvantaged backgrounds and victims of violence, providing them with the skills necessary for economic independence and personal growth.

  • Advocacy:

Gender Links actively engages in advocacy to promote gender equality and women's rights. Our research-driven campaigns aim to influence policies and raise awareness about the importance of gender justice.

  • Halfway Home for Young Female Adults and Girls:

The Safe Haven Halfway Home (SHHH) is dedicated to supporting young women from the age of 18 who have experienced various forms of trauma. Our mission is to help residents understand their experiences and provide them with the necessary skills for a better future. As a service-based, non-profit organisation, we support the homeless, abused young girls, women victims of domestic violence, teenage mothers, and their children.

 

Beneficiaries: Since its inception in September 2017, the Gender Links Safe Haven Halfway Home (SHHH) has provided refuge for 103 residents, including children from diverse socio-economic backgrounds and victims of various types of violence, such as physical, sexual, emotional, and economic abuse. As of June 2021, SHHH housed 15 children and 8 adults. Additionally, our after-school project has supported 48 children aged 0 to 17 years, offering them a safe environment and additional educational opportunities to help them thrive.

History

The Gender Links Mauritius office was established in September 2008. Over the years, Gender Links (GL) has invested significant effort, care, love, and dedication to help women, and their families break free from the cycles of violence, poverty, low self-esteem, and depression. Our work aims to empower these individuals, providing them with the tools and support needed to build better futures.

Objectives
  • To promote gender equality in and through the media, and in all areas of governance.
  • To develop policies and action plans to ensure that gender equality is achieved, especially at the local level.
  • To build the capacity of women, men, and all citizens to engage critically in democratic processes that advance equality and justice.
  • To conduct campaigns for ending gender violence, HIV and AIDS, economic and climate justice, and the rights of marginalized groups.
Main achievements
  • Successfully conducted the Violence Against Women (VAW) Indicator’s Research in the country.
  • Rolled out the Centres of Excellence (COE) programme in 11 localities and 76 villages, which have adopted and are currently implementing the COE process.
  • Conducted active advocacy campaigns on ending gender-based violence (GBV) in schools, universities, women’s associations, and the private sector.
  • Increased the capacity of women in leadership and political representation across all spheres of government, from local to national, and engaged actively with the media to ensure gender-sensitive reporting.
  • Implemented an entrepreneurship programme for survivors of GBV, documenting personal testimonies and establishing a three-phase programme to train, educate, and monitor the success of survivors in their personal and business lives.
  • Launched a mentorship programme funded by the Decentralised Cooperation Programme (DCP) in 2015-2016 across five councils in Mauritius, where previous beneficiaries of the entrepreneurship programme became mentors for new women entrepreneurs.
  • Continued work with three Local Councils (Curepipe, Savanne, and Grand Port) under the CFLI funds, focusing on gender mainstreaming in council work and gender budgeting. Councillors and heads of organisations participated in a training of trainers’ programme, subsequently training people in their regions/villages/wards.
  • Organised and chaired a networking and learning visit for Zimbabwe parliamentarians and a study visit for francophone winners of the regional summit (from Seychelles, DRC, and Madagascar).
  • Coordinated the 16 Days of Activism campaign for the last five years, fostering collaborative activism with other NGOs, academic institutions, advertising companies, and media houses. Increased campaign visibility through bus adverts, videos, and social media.
  • Conducted "Leadership with a Gender Lens" training for the private sector.
  • Secured funding for entrepreneurship and literacy training from LUX* Resorts and Hotels, CIM Finance, Hongkong Standard Bank (HSBC), and State Bank of Mauritius.
  • Organised political dialogues with the participation of political parties.

Opened the Safe Haven Halfway Home, a shelter for young abused and homeless teenagers transitioning from the Rehabilitation Youth Centre, in September 2017. The halfway home has accommodated 67 residents as of September 2020.

Sources of funding

Gender Links receives support from various donors to sustain its programmes and initiatives. Present donors in 2020 include the National Social Inclusion Foundation, European Union (EU), The LUX Collective, La Farge Holcim, Eclosia, Mooneeram Associates, US Embassy, Rotary Port Louis, Toastmasters, Aquathon, and Amplify Change. Additionally, we receive in-kind donations towards the Safe Haven Halfway Home from corporate and individual donors.

 

In the past, from 2018 to 2019, we were supported by HSBC, SBM, CIM Finance, LUX Hotels and Resorts, SICOM, Fondation Joseph Lagesse, CMT, as well as other corporate and individual donors. International donors during this period included the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), World Association for Christian Communication (WACC), Amplify Change, and Leading from the South (LFS).