Providing refuge for gender-based violence survivors

South West Refuge Inc and the Zonta Club of Bunbury Inc, Australia partnered to support women by outfitting two rooms in the refuge with furniture and supplies for families escaping violence. The rooms were added as part of an upgrade to the South West Refuge's facilities.

With a US$2,544 grant from Zonta International, the organization purchased three single beds and mattresses, two trundle beds with mattresses, roller blinds for the windows, cutlery/crockery, kettles, microwaves and two large baskets of linens (bed linens, towels) and toiletries for the room occupants.

"It is so nice to be able to bring my children here," one beneficiary said. "The new room is nicer than the house we lived in [and] everything in it makes us feel welcome."

Another beneficiary, a single woman, had stayed at the South West Refuge before and said the new room is great. "It's small so I feel safer and everything is brand new, I feel special."

Each room provides crisis accommodation for up to 12 families or women each year. All beneficiaries are female and range from infants to age 88.

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