The team set clear and ambitious goals for their 100-day sprint: 

• To educate and equip 500 Early Childhood Development (ECD) teachers with the knowledge to guide and support those affected by GBVF.
• To engage and educate 100 men, empowering them to become active allies in combatting GBVF.
• Empower 500 women through GBVF-focused educational workshops and equip them to serve as community ambassadors within 100 days.

Over the 100 days, the team successfully achieved every target. Through a series of workshops, awareness drives, and community advocacy, they equipped hundreds of community members with critical information, particularly on understanding the local referral pathways for GBVF cases. 

One of the most significant highlights was the overwhelming support and engagement from the men in the community, who showed a profound commitment to being part of the solution.

The crown jewel: A permanent GBVF hub

The team’s most enduring achievement is the establishment of a permanent GBVF Hub for the Drakenstein Municipality. This hub is a therapeutic, safe space designed to provide critical support to survivors and their families.

A key feature of the Hub is its child-friendly therapy room, which allows a parent to receive counselling and support while their children are safely occupied in a conducive environment. This holistic approach removes a significant barrier for survivors with children. The Hub will operate in close partnership with the Department of Social Development (DSD), the Thuthuzela Care Centre, and the South African Police Service (SAPS), ensuring a coordinated response for those in need.

To achieve these results, the team organised weekend programs and large-scale community marches to maximise public awareness. A unique partnership with Virgin Active brought the anti-GBVF message to new audiences through fitness events and a 5km “Wear Black” run, uniting the community in solidarity.

This journey was not without its challenges. The team navigated issues of time management and burnout, which are common in such emotionally demanding work. They learned the importance of clear task delegation and accountability to distribute the workload. A key innovation in their process was implementing a team “Gym session” — a dedicated time to recuperate and focus on self-care, which proved vital to their sustained effort and success.

Lessons for the future

Reflecting on their experience, the team emphasises that their success was built on the foundation of stakeholder collaboration. With a common goal to create a safer Drakenstein, partners from various sectors came together, proving that teamwork truly makes the dream work.

Moving forward, the team plans to institutionalise debriefing sessions. Working with qualified social workers, they recognise that processing the emotional and mental toll of this work is essential for long-term effectiveness. Their advice to future teams is simple but powerful: communicate clearly, lean on your team, and never forget to take care of your own well-being.