Callas Foundation

Callas Foundation is a deeply rooted, community-driven GBV organisation based in Bridgetown, Athlone, that has been serving the Cape Flats for over three decades. Formally registered with the Department of Social Development in 2018, Callas has built an unmatched local reputation through consistent, boots-on-the-ground service — working with survivors, their families, perpetrators, and the justice system all at once.

Founder Caroline Peters — a GBV activist, court support practitioner, and UNODC programme coordinator — built Callas from her own deep conviction that GBV will never end unless communities are empowered to address it from every angle: healing survivors, holding perpetrators accountable, building stronger families, and dismantling the systems that allow abuse to continue unchallenged.

Their approach is holistic and unflinching: they are a year-round organisation, not a 16 Days of Activism response. As Callas representative Lynette Dixon has stated: "GBV is not an issue confined to a particular timeframe. Women should never feel trapped or alone. Support is available, and we are here."

What They Offer Survivors

Court Support and Legal Navigation One of Callas Foundation's most powerful offerings is their court support programme. A trained network of GBV Ambassador volunteers accompanies survivors through every stage of the criminal justice process — from reporting to the police through to court hearings. They explain your rights, walk through processes with you, and are physically present to reduce the fear and isolation of appearing in court. This is one of the most tangible and meaningful forms of support a survivor can receive.

Psychosocial Support and Counselling Callas provides individual counselling sessions, group support, and psychosocial assessments to help survivors process trauma and begin healing. They also connect survivors to specialist support services — including Rape Crisis, MOSAIC, and Triangle Project — through their extensive local referral network.

Women's Support Group A dedicated support group for women seeking reprieve from domestic violence and substance abuse provides peer community, emotional support, and a space to share and heal in the company of others who understand.

Community Kitchen — Food Support (500 Households) In recognition that poverty and GBV are inseparable, Callas runs a community kitchen providing free meals to 500 households in their community four times a week. If you are in the Bridgetown/Athlone area and are struggling with food security, this is available to you.

GBV Ambassador First Responders Training Callas trains both men and women as GBV First Responders and Ambassadors through intensive five-day training sessions — building a community-based network of people equipped to recognise, respond to, and refer GBV across the Cape Flats and beyond. They have delivered this training as far as Piketberg and the Bergriver area.

Boys and Men Programme — Triple B Project (Triple B: Boys, Bikes, Breaking Cycles) The Triple B project works with boys aged 11–16 from the Cape Flats, using bicycles and structured mentorship to build confidence, promote non-violent conflict resolution, challenge toxic masculinity, and equip boys to be allies against GBV. This programme is a direct upstream investment in building a safer future.

Perpetrator Engagement and Family Healing Callas also works with men who have perpetrated GBV — offering workshops and support to help them address the historical, generational, and personal trauma that underlies their behaviour. The goal is transformation, not only punishment — because building safe families ultimately requires healing everyone inside them.

Advocacy and Community Outreach Callas participates in provincial and national advocacy platforms, co-ordinated the Western Cape Women's Shelter Forum, and is affiliated to national and global GBV networks through programmes like Women's Voice and Leadership South Africa (WVLSA) and the Foundation for Human Rights.

All Callas Foundation services are community-facing and centred in Athlone, Bridgetown, and the Cape Flats. Call or WhatsApp 072 539 5113 to access support or find out what is available near you.