Innovation: A Creative Approach to Awareness

The Department successfully distinguished itself by being the only one that used the arts to address GBVF. This innovation included artists composing a powerful song against GBVF titled, “Basadi ba lla, ha re emeng re ba sirelletse” (Women are crying, let’s protect them). They also used Sport as a self-defense training mechanism to empower women and children through Karate classes and the Women in Boxing programme.

Tangible Results and Community Engagement

The team created a permanent information resource by opening a new library and launching a GBVF Corner. This hub will be rolled out to all 185 libraries in the province during the next financial year. Furthermore, awareness campaigns targeted various community groups, including a Big Walk that involved approximately 1,000 participants. The team successfully reached out to 27 men and boys who signed the GBVF Pledge by the President, with the intention of working together on future programs such as BUA NDODA (Men Speak Up). An awareness session for boys in schools resulted in 100 boys signing a pledge to commit to protecting women and girls.

Enablers and Future Goals

The main condition enabling the team’s success was the strong political will and support from the Honourable MEC, HOD, and Management. Their success required creativity and thinking outside the box to use every available resource to address GBVF. Despite facing the hurdle of a lack of personnel and supporting staff, the team built new relationships with various partners including GCIS, Motheo TVET, and “Men against GBV” organizations. Going forward, the team intends to incorporate their programmes into the Premier’s Calendar of events and secure more team members. The reflection affirms that addressing GBVF is a lifetime endeavor that requires commitment and teamwork.