Ubuntu New Hope Center

Ubuntu New Hope Center [UNHC] is a newly founded nonprofit organization for the people of Soweto, South Africa. Ubuntu New Hope Center’s mission is to provide its community with support, counseling, reliable information, advocacy, and appropriate referrals for individuals, families, children, and other members of the community impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault. The organization will educate the community about domestic violence and sexual assault while providing individuals with tools to empower themselves. As an organization, it will be committed to challenge and address different forms of oppression against women, children, and members of the LGBTQIAA.

UNHC’s vision is for the community members of Soweto to live in a world free of violence and in a community where people are safe, respected, and valued.

Soweto is a dangerous and underdeveloped township in South Africa. Women and children grow up exposed to violence with no support to deal with these incidents. In these past few months, Soweto has witnessed traumatic events where young girls were brutally raped and murdered by their intimate partners or strangers. UNHC will provide services to victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in such forms as support counseling, legal advocacy, Family Court documentation, and accompaniment to Family and Criminal Court. Here are links regarding the violence that occurred in Soweto in the past few months. They speak to the need for an organization like UNHC.

➢https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/watch-sorr...

➢https://www.google.com/amp/s/ewn.co.za/2020/04/05/...

UNHC is a project founded and led by Dineo Mmutla. Dineo was born and raised in Soweto where she grew up witnessing the abuse of women and children. She completed all of her studies from high school to graduate school in the United States. She holds a prep school diploma from Culver Girls Academy, a Bachelor of Arts degree from William Smith College and a Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Mary Baldwin University. After obtaining her MA, Dineo worked for the nonprofit organization A New Hope Center in Owego, New York where she was a counselor and advocate for victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Denied a visa to continue to work in the United States, Dineo returned to Soweto where, inspired by her work in the U.S., she has decided to start a similar and much-needed center in the spirit of Ubuntu, a spirit focused on people’s humanity. Addressing issues of domestic violence and sexual assault in South Africa has long been one of Dineo’s personal and professional goals.

Please reflect and consider helping UNHC with start-up funding. Funds are needed to secure and equip the necessary space from which to operate. This essential first step in demonstrating the viability of UNHC will support the peoples of Soweto that can be served by Dineo and her team. Thank you for contemplating a contribution toward the mission of UNHC. Please reach out to Dineo at [email protected] if you need additional information or can offer suggestions on making UNHC a success.