Using Art to raise awareness of GBV….16 Days of Activism! Action Step 6

AFTER a two day coaching on how to use art to tell stories on Gender Based Violence, 18 participants in got down to business to use drawings to tell stories of violence against women and children. Participants sat in a circle and first shared their stories and supported each other as a way of opening up to beginning the healing process. The story circle created a platform for them to start to talk about gender based violence in the community and how it impact on women and children. Participants also drew images of their discussion. The images presented focused on women trafficking, physical, financial and psychological abuse. Participants revealed that the stories they were presenting were based on what they had heard, seen or read about in the newspapers. “This is what is happening around us,” one of the participants said. Nomalisa Ndebele, one of the participants drew a picture that portrayed a couple, Andrew and Lisa. The couple had a blissful relationship and used to share bank cards and credit cards. When they broke up Andrew ‘punished’ Lisa by withdrawing all her servings from the bank. He also borrowed a lot of things using Lisa’s credit cards.

Tea break awareness campaign…16 Days of Activism! Action step 5

OUR Communications and Outreach officer, Chelesile Ndlovu packed her outreach kit on November 27, 2012 and visited Thomas Rudland primary school located in Queens Park East, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Her mission was to raise awareness of gender based violence and to engage young people in the commemorations of the 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against women and children. Ndlovu interacted with approximately 700 girls and boys aged between five years and 13 years. She demystified some cultural practices, behaviours and attitude that perpetuate gender based violence. She encouraged young people to report any form of violence committed around them. This year’s 16 Days of Activism theme is “Question Violence Against Women. Start Asking. Start Changing”. In a question and answer session the children touched on some fundamental questions that revealed their underlying fears and concerns. Questions ranched from where they may find help if there is violence in their families, whether they should report the and neighbours if they are abusing them or someone they know.  

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.