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 Esther House is a shelter near the city of Pietermaritzburg offering safe, short-term accommodation for abused and vulnerable women and their children; a place where they can come and recover both physical and emotionally from troubles in their lives. Since opening in 1992, Esther House has served more than 1730 women.
Women are referred by other projects such as the Pregnancy Care Centre, government departments or other non-government organisations. Esther House liaises with the referring organisation to facilitate any counselling needed, and then liaises with the government and other departments to pursue grants, job training and other services for the women.
Esther House aims to house its guests in more permanent accommodation, and help them to find jobs in order to support themselves. Unfortunately, many women do not have the skills to provide for themselves and their children.
 Residents have the opportunity to participate in basic skills training such as cooking, sewing and knitting, parenting and baby care, and attend Bible studies. Counselling and spiritual support are also offered.
A continued cause of domestic abuse is the enduring and negative attitudes of men toward women. Esther House is therefore developing a schools programme to address these issues and look to prevent these attitudes forming.
The vision of Project Gateway is to see churches mobilised in the areas of education and training, care and sustainable livelihoods, and to provide a model and resource base for the city of Pietermaritzburg and its surrounds. Project Gateway has always been intended as a ‘Gateway’ both in and out for projects and individuals and in line with this, Esther House believes that now is the right time for it to establish itself as an independent project and leave through the ‘Gateway’ to allow others in so that they can also be mentored and developed through Project Gateway.
In 2008 we were able to move into new premises. The new house was given electrical and furnishing repairs and we are enjoying its use very much! It is a prime example of a project that has grown, been nurtured and is now fully under the leadership and oversight of a local church, thus freeing up space for a new project to be developed.
If you would like more information about Esther House please contact Prlject Gateway who will put you in touch with the right people.uge for
"One woman served is one woman saved"
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