Art for change…16 Days of Activism! Action Step 4

A local artist, Charles Mlilo is volunteering his time to facilitate a two day art visual art session where 13 women and 3 men will be telling their stories in pictures about their experiences, feelings, attitude and opinion on the various forms of Gender Based Violence that is committed by people. A gallery walk will be held to showcase the stories told by women and men using visual art.

Parents express worry over the misuse of ICT by young people…16 Days of Activism! Action Step 3

THE third day of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence saw the ongoing Citizen Journalism training programme focusing on gender based violence with a focus on the new Information society. Participants comprising of 13 women and 3 men explored various forms of gender based violence. They discussed how gender based violence can be committed using ICTs. They pointed cyber crimes such as sexual harassment, online trafficking and stalking and they explored ways they can protect themselves from becoming victims of gender based violence committed using ICTs.

Suburb painted in purple…16 Days of Activism! Action Step 2

The Queens Park West shopping centre in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe was a beehive of activity when the HIV testing and counseling team from Northend Clinic arrived on 25 November. Immediately, our team got to work. We distributed purple ribbons and talked to people about the need to end gender based violence. We made face-to-face communication with 207 people and we distributed 300 purple ribbons, posters and fliers urging people to end gender based violence.

When Opportunities knocks…16 Days of Activism! Action Step 1

WHEN opportunities knock at our door step, we open the door and welcome them! A team of nurses from Northend clinic in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe offered free HIV/AIDS testing and counseling services at Montgomery Hall, where our offices are located. Our programme team integrated this activity into our 16 Days of Activism campaign. We talked to 41 women and 12 men about the need to end violence against women and girls. Our volunteers, led by Senzeni Bhila, took 100 purple ribbons and distributed them at a local sports bar and a shopping centre in Kingsdale. The ribbons had the message “Prevent Violence Against Women”. This exciting activity took place on November 24, 2012. As we continue to work with women and girls we want to promote community dialogue so that Communication Rights issues affecting women and girls can immerge so that we can respond to them. These may include addressing questions of inclusion and exclusion, of quality and accessibility.

This is the second time an opportunity has knocked at our door step following the establishment of our offices in Kingsdale, Zimbabwe. Earlier in October 2012 we were invited to exhibit at the Bulawayo Ideas Festival. We distributed purple ribbons and posters that we had received from the Gender based violence network. We reached 120 women, men and children. Thanks to the GBV Network for providing the 16 Days of Activism materials and to AWDF for enabling us to retain our human resources and allowing us to scale up our activities and reach out to more people.

 

Taking the bull by its horns - 16 Days of Activism! 16 Actions steps

THIS year we are taking the bull by its horns! We have lined up awareness raising activities for young people, women and men living in Queens Park and Kingsdale in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Activities lined up for this year’s celebrations will increase recognition, support and respect for our local initiatives aimed at upholding Communication Rights which will lead to the recognition, implementation and protection of other human rights. We will raise awareness of how Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can be used negatively by perpetrators of Gender Based Violence (GBV).

-          We have planned onsite visits to our newly established offices where people will be exposed to new ICTs.   

-          We will hold discussions of how GBV and Violence Against Women (VAW and children can be committed using ICTs.

-          We will shows women and girls how they can protect themselves from GBV committed using ICTs.

-          We will have a Blog-a-thon and ‘run a 16 Days of Activism marathon online aimed at documenting all our activities as a means of documenting and raising awareness of GBV and VAW in Zimbabwe.

-          A local visual artist will work with our beneficiaries to use visual art to portray VAW and children.

-          Our citizen journalism programme will address GBV issues and VAW.

-          We will partner with a local church to commemorate this important day with women and girls living with mental health problems.

-          We will close the curtains for the 16 Days of Activism with a gallery walk to showcase GBV paintings produced locally by women and girls in Kingsdale and Queens Park.

In short, this year’s activities will be memorable as we set our feet firmly on the ground to reach and serve women and girls in Zimbabwe.Follow us to learn more about our activities.