The story of Hanne’s Shelter

Hanne Løvlie was 30 when she was killed outside the government building during Anders Breivik’s terrorist attack on July 22, 2011.

In memory of Hanne, her family has built a center for women affected by violence in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Hanne studied in Durban at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She was an extrovert and politically conscious woman. During her studies, she became aware of the major problem of violence against women in South Africa and not least in the KwaZulu-Natal province.

Hanne’s family approached me as the head of the organization Impande Norway and asked if we could together build a center for women affected by violence in KwaZulu-Natal in memory of Hanne. Impande has driven development work among children and adolescents in the province of KwaZulu-Natal since 2006.
The focus has been on improving children, young people and women’s conditions, including building kindergartens, schools, development centers and drop-in centers.

The statistics about the living conditions of women in these areas are discouraging. 36% of women report that they have been subjected to gender-related violence. 31% of pregnant women report that they have been subjected to violence during their pregnancy.

This is also the area in South Africa that is hardest hit by HIV. Women of the 16-24 age group are the most vulnerable to becoming invected by HIV.

Hannes Shelter will formally open on the 19th and 20th March in Gcilima. The department of Social Development, DSD, is planning for the 2000 to be present during the opening party. This is the first institution of this kind that is being built within a local and rural tribal area in South Africa.

In memory of Hanne, her family now has filled one of Hannes’s desires for her life.