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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 physically and emotionally from troubles in their lives. Since opening in 1992, Esther House has served more than 1730 women.
Women are referred by other Project Gateway programmes, such as the Pregnancy Care Centre, or by 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.
In 2009 Esther House moved into new premises. The new house was given electrical and furnishing repairs and we are enjoying its use very much!
The vision of Project Gateway is to see churches mobilised in the areas of education and training, care and empowerment, 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 has now established itself as an independent project and earlier this year made the move to leave through the ‘Gateway’ to allow others in so that they too can also be mentored and developed.
If you would like more information about Esther House please contact us at Project Gateway and we will put you in touch with the right people.
"One woman served is one woman saved"
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