Have you heard of S-Cape Home?
A few weeks ago I attended a ladies breakfast for S-Cape Home. Wow! What an incredible morning, learning all about S-Cape and the amazing work they do, rehabilitating women who have been rescued out of human-trafficking and modern day slavery.
The event started with the team sharing some shocking facts about human trafficking. Did you know that there are an estimated 40.3 million people living as slaves today? In fact, there are more slaves today, than ever before. I went cold when I heard that fact.
This photo was taken by S-Cape Home
When someone Is trafficked, every aspect of their life is controlled. All of their ID documents, passports etc, are taken away from them. They are subjected to violence, physical abuse and there are sometimes even threats to harm their families. I shudder to even think what it must be like to live in those circumstances.
Enter, S-Cape Home, “a safe home that desires to bring holistic restoration to women and children coming out of human trafficking and exploitation.” Taken from the S-Cape website.
S-Cape was founded in 2010 by Miryam Cherpillod. Miryam had moved to South Africa from Switzerland in 2005, with YWAM. She had a clear calling from God to help women and children who were trapped in prostitution. Through her work, she came to realise that there was no safe house equipped to help women who have been victims of human trafficking.
“Miryam had developed a strong network of professionals and volunteers, recruited and equipped a team, and had begun raising funds. By January 2011, Miryam was able to secure a facility and by March they opened its doors to welcome S-CAPE’s first residents. In January 2013, S-CAPE was offered a small building on a big plot from the municipality and moved. Since that time, the safe house which is not that spacious has often been at full capacity and at times unable to receive new residents. In 2015, S-CAPE started the process of building an extension for 4 extra bedrooms, and from the mid year of 2016, S-CAPE is now able to cater for: 6+ beds for emergency and short to medium term placements, 2+ beds for residents accompanied by children, 4+ beds for 2nd stage residents.” Taken from the S-Cape website.
To date, S-Cape have helped more than 70 women. One of the ladies they have helped shared her story with us, at the event. Wow! It was a powerful moment, hearing how this woman was rescued and how God has restored her life. In the words of this lady (they did not share her real name with us), she said she was loved better by the staff and volunteers at S-Cape. They had loved her and helped her to physical, emotional and psychological restoration. Through S-Cape, this lady had found not only the love of people, but also the love of God.
This photo was taken by me.
Her dream was to write her whole life story. But, she had a stroke, and had to re-learn how to both speak and write. With the help of a speech therapist, and many hours of intense therapy, this lovely lady not only learned how to speak and write again, but she also managed to write a book, sharing her story and how God has healed her and restored her relationships with her children and family. It was incredible to hear her story.
If you would like to read “Buttercup”, please send an email to contact@s-cape.org.za to purchase a copy of the book.
If you would like to find out more about S-Cape, or how you could get involved, you can head to their website here. You can also find them on Facebook and Instagram.
*I was invited to the S-Cape Home Ladies Breakfast in exchange for a blog post, and I was so inspired by the work that they do.
*The featured image was taken by S-Cape Home at the ladies breakfast.
