By 20 August 2026, the programme had recorded approximately 5,700 participants, exceeding its goal of 5,000. Learners and community members received information about recognising abuse and understanding consent, alongside guidance on reporting and accessing assistance.
The programme also strengthened working relationships between participating organisations. Municipal representatives worked with education officials, SAPS and social development services, alongside health professionals, Legal Aid and community organisations. Schools and departments were asked to nominate designated GBVF contacts, while partners combined their planned activities into a shared programme.
Extending prevention education through schools
School visits and youth programmes enabled the team to reach a substantial number of learners. Child Protection Week activities reached 1,400 learners, while Sport Against Crime programmes at two high schools reached 1,900. A career exhibition involving 11 high schools reached a further 1,000 learners.
These activities provided different settings for discussing GBVF. Through sport, the team combined prevention education with efforts to strengthen relationships between schools and communities. School campaigns addressed teenage pregnancy alongside bullying and consent, placing these subjects within a broader discussion about young people’s relationships and wellbeing.
Information about support formed part of this work. A victim support empowerment session hosted with SAPS brought together 50 participants to learn about the assistance available to survivors. This extended the programme beyond recognising abuse to understanding how and where to seek help.
Sustaining delivery through shared responsibility
The team’s capacity reduced considerably during implementation. While 33 members initially committed to the programme, only 10 remained by the 50-day workshop. The remaining members continued delivering activities by sharing responsibilities and drawing on partner organisations’ existing programmes.
A phased implementation plan provided continuity, while progress meetings allowed partners to assess their work and organise the remaining activities. Participation figures were recorded to monitor progress towards the outreach goal.
The experience demonstrated the value of planning across organisations. Although reduced participation placed additional demands on the remaining members, established partnerships helped sustain delivery.
Strengthening the connection between education and support
The programme has shown how much partners can achieve by working together, while its longer-term contribution will depend on continued education and reliable access to services. Knowing how to recognise abuse must be accompanied by knowing whom to approach and what assistance is available.
For the team, this means incorporating GBVF education into regular school and departmental programmes. Designated contacts can help learners access assistance, while ongoing communication between organisations is needed to ensure referrals lead to support.
The team plans to begin another 100-Day Challenge, focusing on reaching more people and strengthening survivor referrals. The relationships established during the first 100 days provide a foundation for this work, but maintaining them will require partners to remain actively involved.
Dr Beyer Naude LM