The Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children was opened in 1999 in response to the high rates of violence against women and children on the Cape Flats. They have managed to assist over 260 000 women and children survivors of Gender Based Violence since opening their doors.

AVI Community Investment Trust funding contributed towards operational costs of the Centre, this will enable the Centre to continue to provide cost-free services 365 days a year to abused women and children employing a comprehensive range of services for the effective treatment and prevention of violence against women and children.

Find out more: https://www.saartjiebaartmancentre.org.za/

Heart-Work’s mission is to reach prisoners who have never been exposed to personal therapy, or have never been afforded the opportunity to learn about their personal emotions in a controlled and secure environment.

The Sub-Objective of this organisation is to curb the re-admittance rate that most prisoners experience after they get released from prison. Therefore, the Heart-Work programme does not only focus on a healthier way to combat the current regressed emotions whilst the participant are incarcerated, but also with coping mechanisms and integration skills to equip them to re-join society and better chance to access economic opportunities.

The AVI Community Trust’s financial support has been towards the following centres where the programme is implemented:

• Leeuwkop men
• Boksburg men
• Groenpunt men
• Krugersdorp men
• Zonderwater maximum centre – Men
• Zonderwater medium centre – Men

Find out more: http://www.heartwork.org.za/

The Whale Coast Conservation Trust (WCCT) was established in 2002 with the mission to unify, coordinate and promote environmentally sustainable living in the Cape Whale Coast region of the Western Cape.  The major focus of the organisation is community development through environmental education, to understand and appreciate the unique Whale Coast environment. The programme educates through schools Expos, nature excursions, citizen-science research and conservation projects, as well as community projects.

The AVI Community Trust has partnered with the WCCT to inspire environmental learning and an understanding of one-planet/sustainable lifestyles by sponsoring a series of Expos to Gansbaai schools. The purpose is to promote and make children aware of the critical ecological role that estuaries play in the Whale Coast area.

Find out more: http://whalecoastconservation.org.za/

St Mary’s Outreach Programme operates in the rural areas of Marianhill in KwaZulu-Natal and caters for destitute, unemployed, youth, women and children. St Mary’s Outreach Programme was started due to the HIV/Aids pandemic that was sweeping South Africa. The initial focus was only on training community care givers to provide home based care.  Assisting with medication, bathing, changing, wound dressing and feeding.  St Mary’s Outreach Programme has since progressed and presently offers home Drop-In Centre that caters for orphan and vulnerable children, school psycho-social counselling, integrated school health programme, community based organisation development, income generation projects and gardening projects

The AVI Community Trust continues to support St Mary’s Outreach Programme with its core service offerings to service the community of Marianhill.

Find out more: https://cocstmarys.co.za/