Women and girls from Barrydale and Smitsville are invited to attend a free self-defence workshop that will take place on Saturday, October 17 at the BF Oosthuizen Primary School in Tinley Road.
This initiative is driven by the newly established Barrydale Training Hub (BTH) and will be presented in partnership with Fight Back SA.
“Our mission is to empower women to take a stand against crime and not become a statistic,” Gesa Cooper, Barrydale Training Hubs’s director of administration and finance said.
Gesa is also head of the women’s health program, which includes the fight against gender based violence (GBV) and care program for children affected by fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
Director Eljo Kees, who is currently studying towards a B.Ed degree at Unisa, will work directly with the youth.
According to Graham Abbott, BTH Director of Training, the self-defence course (scheduled to take place from 09:30 to 11:30 and 13:00 to 1500) is but one of many initiatives the organisation has started within the community.
Graham highlighted that they have launched Project Veggies For Life – and initiative aimed at erecting growing tunnels in various locations around town.
BTH also plans to do end-user computer training through their CEO Peter Clayton who has already secured a sizable software sponsorship from Microsoft.
Another aspect of BTH is photography training under the guidance of former Cape Town Studio owner and photography wizard Graham.
This exciting initiative in Barrydale recently also welcomed Francois and Elizabeth Beer from Lotus Production Management (Pty) Ltd to their stable and they will, among various things, present a breath-water-sound program in the community.
All of this will be done under the directorship of Peter and newly elected chairman Frans Kees and vice-chairman Ray-Wen Classen.
Peter added that local community organisations must work together towards one goal, total upliftment of Smitsville.
Gesa Cooper 
Graham Abbott Frans Kees 
Eljo Kees Ray-Wen Classen 
Raymond Classen
For more information about the Barrydale Training Hub visit their website or Facebook Page or email admin@barrydaletraininghub.org.za
