At a farewell function last week, Joy Lange, the outgoing head of a Woodstock-based shelter organisation, was praised for her efforts to help abused women and children.
Ms Lange, 54, of Bellville, left St Anne’s Homes, following a 14-year stint as the non-profit’s executive director, at the end of last month, to take up a new position as a consultant for an independent power producer.
“It has been a life-changing experience. It has brought me closer to seeing what is happening in our communities and more so with families,” she said.
“Intimate-partner violence and domestic violence happen within a family setting. If this breaks down, it impacts the moral fibre and dignity of a person.”
Shelters offered critical services to survivors of abuse, including counselling, skills development and empowerment workshops, she said.
As founder of the Western Cape Shelter Movement in 2011, and serving on the executive of the National Shelter Movement of South Africa, she played a key role in lobbying government to give more support to women’s shelters, many of which are non-profit organisations that rely on fund-raising for their survival.
She promoted her organisation’s model at the Global Network of Women’s Shelters conferences in America, in 2012; the Netherlands, in 2015; and Taiwan, in 2019.
St Anne’s Homes employees and residents, along with representatives from other shelters, honoured Ms Lange at a farewell dinner held at St Peter’s Church, in Mowbray, on Wednesday April 26.
St Anne’s Homes treasurer Ryan Viljoen said: “She left a great legacy at St Anne’s; she did a lot in her time here and always had a vision and drive to build the organisation up.”
Jacoba Ryk, a St Anne’s resident, described Ms Lange as a mother figure. “When I came to St Anne’s, it was a difficult time for me. It was easy to interact with Ms Lange; I could always lean on her, and I could knock on the door and she will always be there.”
St Anne’s social worker Anthea Roman said Ms Lange had always “pushed us to be the best that we can be”.
Bernadine Bachar, the director of the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children and an executive member of the National Shelter Movement of SA, said Ms Lange’s work had given a voice to countless survivors over the past 14 years. “Her wisdom, passion and dedication to empowering women will be sorely missed,” she said.
Oslynn Macounie will take over as shelter manager at St Anne’s. Ms Lange encouraged the public to support Ms Macounie and to continue supporting St Anne’s.
Visit stanneshomes.org.za or call 021 448 6792 for more information.
