Sally-Jean Shackleton has extensive experience in working in the non-profit sector on women’s rights and development. Her most recent experience is as Executive Director of Women’sNet. As such, she worked on technologies as they empower, amplify voices and communicate equality – strengthening the women’s sector to respond to new challenges. She also spearheaded the organisations’ work in Digital Stories for transformation. She has worked as a facilitator, rights educator, materials developer, project manager and has experience at all levels of organisational management.
I am a clinical psychologist by training, and also (long ago) worked as a professional nurse. I love working at the interface between mental health, empowerment and social transformation. I have worked in the fields of mental illness, trauma, HIV-AIDS, peri-natal mental health, and substance abuse. My work at SWEAT brings all the strands together, and then adds a new dimension. In my time at SWEAT, I have seen sex worker empowerment with my own eyes, and it gives me great satisfaction and joy.
Gordon’s professional career spans over forty years in the field of Clinical Social Work – After completing a degree in Social Work (with distinction in psychiatry for social workers) at the University of the Witwatersrand, he opened the first Crisis Clinic – in Johannesburg, where he worked as Head of Therapeutic Services, as well as consultant for addiction centers in Johannesburg ( SANCA and Phoenix House).
Currently Dr Isaacs, is the psycho-social coordinator of Sweat’s outreach and development program (Cape Town), and provides training, supervision and support to staff and service users. In addition he is a part time lecturer at the South African College of Applied Psychology, where he teaches courses in Crisis and Trauma Counseling, and Human Sexuality and HIV.
I have been working at sweat from the year 2009 as driver but most recently, is an Outreach and Development Worker. I left school at grade 11 and started working as a self employed taxi family business .Then started at SWEAT in 2009 because I was interested in what is sex work is and what the law around it is. I then even wanted more info when I started working full time and even now up till today, learning more of human rights of sex workers. My passion is to help people in difficulties and I mean any difficulties. My belief is if you can save one person out of ten it is a difference you making in some one’s life - that’s why I love my job because my work fits with my passion.
I’ve been with SWEAT since 2008, I have a Higher Diploma in Music ,Dance and Drama, a Diploma in Project Management, HIV and STIs training, Developmental approaches and skills for group facilitation. I love using my personal experience that has taken me through life to where I am today and share it with people, people who have lost hope in life and need re assurance that they are better people than they think of themselves. I have managed to do this through dance and drama as another tool for communication. If I can make a difference in someone’s life that makes life worthwhile for me.
I'm a Counsellor by profession at SWEAT. I started working for SWEAT in June 2010 as a Help Line Counsellor. I have done my matric in 1995 at Klerksdorp where i grew up. I have done few short courses eg: computer course, life skills, communication skills, that was accredited by the University of Pretoria, HIV/AIDS counselling from the SOULCITY INSTITUTE. I was also doing Human Resource at the University of the Western Cape. I'm very passionate in working with people of different cultures and backgrounds. I'm a soft spoken lady, ever smiling and so down to earth. In years to come I would like to see myself as an example to my colleagues, and a very good example to the people I'm dealing with (sex workers). I like my job because I'm dealing with lots of people: police, social workers, nurses, and other organisations which I'm working well with.
I am a leading sex work rights activist who came in as a volunteer peer educator in 2009 and then moved on to be the South African Country Coordinator for the African Sex Worker Alliance a project within SWEAT which is in 10 African countries in 2010. I have been involved with a wide range of activities from advocacy to media representing sex workers in making sure that their voices are recognised and that they are not excluded in HIV/AIDS; general health and human rights interventions. I organised and led one of the first ever sex worker rights marches held in 3 cities in South Africa ON 3rd March 2011. I am now the front of the decriminalisation campaign by SWEAT. I have a vision of seeing decriminalisation (an environment where sex work is recognised as work and where sex workers can practise their profession without the fear of being discriminated against) ; am a feminist and passionate about the health human rights of all. Aluta Continua!
I joined SWEAT 01st August 2008 and I am a Development Worker at SWEAT for the Sisonke Sex Worker Movement. My passion is working with sex workers and educating sex workers around Health issues, Human rights, and to know more about sex workers. I have good communication with sex workers in sex work industry and help sex workers to open bank accounts, join a burial society, and for sex workers to have I D book. I believe in and support of sex workers - they are human rights defenders. I have done trainings on basic HIV program for non-clinicians, advanced facilitation skills, developmental approaches and skills for group facilitation, supervisor management skills, time and stress management. I as Kholi I am very much in love with my work and I feel good that I am doing something good every day of my life to bring change into people lives. I am proud to be a SWEAT staff member and with the skills that I have I am looking forward to building Sisonke capacity and to take Sisonke into the next level.
