POWA was formed in 1979 by a group of women volunteers to provide referral services and shelter to women experiencing domestic violence. POWA was the first organisation to establish a shelter for abused women in 1981 and pioneered second stage (or transitional) housing for women in 2009 in Gauteng.

The direct services delivery component of the organisation forms the basis of and informs all advocacy interventions, at local, national and regional level.
With over 40 years of history behind us, we have become an organisation that is considered to be an expert on issues of women’s rights. We are consulted by the private sector, government and civil society on educational and decision-making matters pertaining to women’s safety and enjoyment of our rights.

POWA’s services are free of charge to ensure access is not an additional challenge to the already overwhelming difficulties for women to access their rights. This approach assists with the reduction of women’s vulnerability due to financial dependencies that play a huge role in violence against women.