Musasa provides temporary safe shelters to GBV survivors with the purpose of the safe keeping of the survivor and at times her children from any further potential harm. A safe shelter in the context of GBV is a home that provides an alternative place of temporary accommodation to survivors of GBV. The intended purpose of a shelter is to keep the survivor and at times her children from any further potential harm from the perpetrator with the aim of supporting her in dealing with the traumatic experience while assisting in any long term steps that a survivor wishes to take. Musasa shelter services offer case management services which include psycho-social support, legal support, medical assistance as well as follow up care, economic empowerment to equip survivors with the necessary skills to lead independent and fruitful lives in future.
Musasa began operating shelters in 1998 with its first shelter being opened in Harare. It is from those beginnings that Musasa has grown to establish twelve more additional urban and community based shelters around Zimbabwe. i.e in Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Bubi, Buhera, Chikomba, Gutu, Gokwe, Marange, Mazowe, Bikita, Mwenezi.
The Harare shelter is the first shelter that was established by Musasa in 1998. This was in response to the increase of cases of violence against women and it was upon the realisation that most abused women usually suffer continued violence because there is no place of safety that they can temporarily live while they are receiving help.
The shelter is situated in the low density of Harare for security purposes.
The shelter is situated at Bekezela Home Based Care in Inyathi. It became operational in August 2014. Bubi district is located in Matebeleland North province, South west of Harare.
The Chikomba shelter is situated at Kwenda High School in Wedza. The partnership with the school and church has helped with integrating young girls into the school system. Working with the church has also given us opportunity to engage church leaders so that they also challenge doctrines that condone violence against women. The shelter has a livelihood project that is focusing on poultry, gardening and sewing so that survivors are empowered with skills and these funds will in the long run sustain the shelter.
The Gokwe shelter is located in Defe. The shelter opened its doors to the community in April 2015.The Zion Christian Church which gave us the space to set up a shelter also constructed the building structure with Musasa only coming in to roof and put in a few other finishing touches. The partnerships with churches have also helped Musasa to penetrate within church systems and encourage leaders to denounce GBV
The Buhera shelter is situated at Chikwekwete Primary School about 10 kilometres from Murambinda Growth Point. The shelter had its first admission on 16 July 2014
The Gutu shelter is located at Sote, The community based shelter in Gutu started operating after the Anti-Domestic Violence Council and UNFPA visited shelter from 13-15 February 2015 to assess the progress and certify the shelter if it was ready for operation. The shelter has a livelihood project that is mainly focusing on market gardening, goat rearing and poultry project. These projects are empowering survivors with skills that they can use upon discharge, it is also a sustainability strategy so that in the long run the shelter can generate funds that can be used for shelter support.
The shelter is in Marange (Mutare District) in Wendumba village. It is situated in an area where most of the villagers belong to the Marange apostolic sect. Setting up in Marange was a deliberate way to infiltrate in the apostolic systems where a lot of abuses are happening all in the name of the church. It opened its doors to the community on 23 June 2014 and it received its first client on the 5th of July 2014
The Mazowe shelter which was funded under the DREAMS project is set up in Mazowe Dambatsoko village with support from the community and District leaders. The shelter is for young women and girls but not limited to this age group. It was opened in January 2017.
The Gweru shelter was established in March 2015. It is an urban shelter set up behind the Gweru office. This was a response to the demand for a shelter by both the stakeholders and the community members at large. It was also a response to the increase of cases of violence against women and the realisation that most women usually suffer continued violence because there is no place of safety that they can temporarily live while they are receiving help.
The Bikita shelter is Musasa’s new born which opened its doors in November 2017 and set up in Mutarara within the school and church system. The Bikita stakeholders had been pushing for a community based shelter since 2013 and their support and cooperation made the process smooth and easier. Setting up the shelter within the church and school system is both a sustainability and security strategy that has worked well with some of our shelters.
