In an interview with Women in Action founder, Marcia Pires, Universal News asked about the significance of the new project ‘Save a Tamar’. The Bible records in 2 Samuel 13:1-21, that 
Tamar was one of David’s daughters who was abused by her own brother, Amnon. There are many Tamars in South Africa today – women who are physically, sexually and emotionally abusedUNIVERSAL NEWS: How many members does the WiA currently have?
MARCIA PIRES: We have about 300 pastors’ wives.
UN: What is your vision as WiA?
MP: To interact with our community and to empathise with their needs and daily struggles. We want to give back to the communities where our husbands work.
UN: What is the motive behind the ‘Save a Tamar Campaign’?
MP: To focus on the subject in such a way that each one of us feels the responsibility to reach out to anyone, anywhere who has been directly or indirectly affected by abuse from any source.
UN: How do you plan on fi nding the Tamars of today?
MP: We will raise awareness of abuse at different levels and call upon women to stand up and not accept it as a natural course of life. We will motivate males to be role models for youngsters in their neighbourhood and spread awareness of PSP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis) to prevent HIV after rape cases.
UN: How have the woman from WiA prepared themselves in work with the Tamars of today?
MP: This goes back to our daily experience in the church of counselling and praying. Only spiritual strength can really free a victim of the ghosts of the past.
UN: The project will run for four months. What will happen to the Tamars when the project comes to an end?
MP: We hope to achieve a greater level of awareness and prevention and to deliver the message that any Tamar may count on our support to claim her life back.
UN:Abuse affects not only Tamar’s but their family members too. Will you be working with the families when you try to help Tamars?
MP: One is part of the other and if we are given an opening by the victim, we will give counselling if the family welcomes our intervention.
Join the Women in Action at the Cathedral of Faith in Soweto on Women’s Day – Monday,
9th August 2010 at 10am