In the midst of Purple August, the national month of awareness and combating violence against women, we announce the arrival of a new Philanthropic Fund that reinforces our commitment to the safety of women and girls in the country.
The Safecity Philanthropic Fund – Voices for Safety and Equity – Brazil Chapter is an initiative of the Red Dot Foundation, an Indian organization that works globally to prevent gender-based violence, and relies on Sitawi's expertise for its financial management. The initiative aims to empower communities, strengthen local programs, and influence systemic change to make the invisible visible.
Safecity is a crowdsourcing platform that collects anonymous reports of gender-based violence in public and private spaces. This data, combined with real stories, helps map unsafe areas, identify patterns, and inform prevention actions, awareness campaigns, public policies, and urban design improvements.
"Gender-based violence is still invisible to many people, whether due to a lack of data or the silence imposed on victims. This fund is here to support initiatives that break down this barrier," emphasizes Fernanda Pessoa, Philanthropy Management Manager at Sitawi.
According to Elsa Marie, founder of the Red Dot Foundation, giving visibility to these stories is essential to bringing about structural change. "Safecity transforms individual experiences into powerful data. This way, we can see patterns, engage communities, and create solutions that make cities safer for women, girls, and people from marginalized groups," she explains.
In addition to data collection, Safecity builds community capacity through education and leadership training, focusing on prevention and promoting gender equality. The fund also works to influence public policy and improve safety in urban and private spaces.
"Losing access to public spaces due to fear of violence is a development challenge. Ensuring women's safety means ensuring their full participation in economic, educational, and social life," adds ElsaMarie.
With Sitawi's financial and administrative management, the fund will have the structure to expand its reach and impact in Brazil, connecting resources to initiatives that promote gender equality.
