City supports over 200 women into leadership and work opportunities
07 May 2026
The City’s Community, Arts and Culture Development Department, within the Community Services and Health Directorate, has empowered more than 202 women this financial year through its annual Women with Purpose Programme.
Through the programme, previously known as Women for Change, women from low income households are empowered with the knowledge, skills, confidence, and networks needed to become leaders, role models, and active agents of positive change in their families and communities.
Importantly, the programme forms part of the City’s broader whole-of-society approach to addressing the root cause of crime, gangsterism and gender-based violence (GBV). By investing in women as community leaders, the City is strengthening social cohesion, promoting positive role models and building resilience at a household and community level.
Through a combination of training and work exposure, participants are supported in their personal development while also contributing meaningfully within their communities. The programme aims to create pathways for themselves to access ongoing support, networks and opportunities for growth – ultimately enabling long-term social and economic impact.
‘This programme is about building stronger communities from within. When women are supported, they step into leadership roles, support their families and help create safer neighbourhoods. I encourage more women to apply and be part of this opportunity,’ said Councillor Francine Higham, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health.
As part of the programme’s work strategy, the women are placed at various sites for the duration of their contracts, which range from three to six months, while completing their training.
Placements during this financial year included the Identikidz Programme during the 2025/ 2026 festive season, various Recreation and Parks facilities, libraries, clinics, Early Childhood Development Centres, NGOs and other City of Cape Town offices.
The women were taken through a range of training courses including:
- Leadership
- First aid
- Financial management
- Digital literacy
- Peace building and conflict resolution
- Customer protection rights
- Trauma healing and psycho-social training
- Community dialogue
- Gender and GBV awareness
- Parenting workshop
- Job readiness
- Personal development plan
The combination of skills equips participants not only for employment opportunities, but also to play an active role in strengthening community networks, supporting vulnerable individuals and promoting safer environments.
Since 2017, more than 6 000 women have participated in the programme, which has created thousands of work opportunities for them across the city.
The women came from across the city and were chosen from the sub-council jobseekers database.
Women who are interested in the programme can contact communityartsandculturedevelopment@capetown.gov.za
For more information, visit the City's website.
Caption: At the graduation of one of the groups of women who completed the programme. The women in the group came from Ocean View, Lavender Hill, Tafelsig and Gugulethu.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
