L'Abrie de Dieu Safe House Stellenbosch

What the safe house provides

The shelter provides residential accommodation — a real home, not a dormitory — for women and their children from the day they arrive. They come with nothing: no money, no change of clothes, no food, no sense of what tomorrow looks like. Safe House Stellenbosch meets that reality with a comprehensive wish list of practical support: groceries and formula and nappies; clothing from babies to adults; bedding and towels; crockery and kitchenware; cleaning equipment and toiletries. These are not afterthoughts — they are the physical architecture of safety that makes it possible for a woman to stay.

Beyond shelter: empowerment and exit

Director Charlene Abels and her team operate from a simple conviction: a woman who leaves the shelter with nowhere to go and no way to earn a living is not much safer than one who stayed. Safe House Stellenbosch is therefore built around sustainability. Social workers and psychological and psychiatric support help residents process trauma and make decisions with a clearer mind. Legal services assist women in securing protection orders and navigating the court system — giving abuse a legal name and a legal boundary. And the skills development training — First Aid, fire fighting, parenting skills, self-defence, drug rehabilitation — gives women practical tools that translate into employment and self-sufficiency. The goal is explicit: when a woman leaves, she has housing and a job.

Community reach

The shelter has extended its services beyond its walls, providing outpatient victim empowerment services to two surrounding communities — reaching women who have not left their situations yet, or who need support after leaving. Awareness campaigns, including a partnership with the Varsity Cup, extend the reach further still. A children's play zone, arts and crafts, and educational resources mean that children who arrive traumatised have space to breathe and play.

The funding crisis

South Africa's DSD subsidy for safe houses stands at R9 per woman per day. A prison inmate costs R451 per day. This is not a typo. The Western Cape's 16 safe houses survive on donor funding, volunteerism, and the fierce commitment of their staff. Safe House Stellenbosch actively solicits donations of groceries, clothing, toiletries, school stationery, kitchenware, bedding, and financial contributions. The organisation is clear: there is a desperate need for more safe houses, and plans are in place to open three more in Wellington, Franschhoek, and Somerset West as soon as funding allows.

To donate: givengain.com/cause/1945 or contact Charlene Abels on 021 883 2574.

Safe House Stellenbosch: safehousestellenbosch.co.za / 021 883 2574 / info@safehousestellenbosch.co.za. Free residential shelter, food, legal support, psychiatric/psychological care, skills training. Women and children fleeing DV. Stellenbosch, Western Cape. GBV crisis: 0800 428 428 (toll-free, 24/7). NSMSA shelter helpline: 0800 001 005 (24/7).