WATCH: Eden Park unites against GBV with candle lighting and prayer walk
Residents gathered outside JD Thomas Hall to honour those affected by gender-based violence and call for stronger community action against abuse and femicide.
The Eden Park community came together on Friday for a Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Awareness Candle Lighting and Prayer Walk.
The gathering, held in front of JD Thomas Hall in Eden Park, started at 17:00 and was held in partnership with I Matter and the Eden Park Community Police Forum (CPF).
The event focused on remembering those affected by GBV, praying for the community and encouraging people to stand together and speak out.
The programme included an opening prayer, a welcome and word from Natalie Abrahams, a safety and police address by CPF chairperson Peter Thomas and a word from GBV activist Lucinda Roux.
@albertonrecord The programme included an opening prayer, a welcome and word from Natalie Abrahams, a safety and police address by CPF chairperson Peter Thomas and a word from GBV activist Lucinda Roux. Abrahams said the gathering was an opportunity to pray for families affected by GBV and to take a stand against violence against women. Full story on albertonrecord.co.za
Abrahams said the gathering was an opportunity to pray for families affected by GBV and to take a stand against violence against women.
“Today we have gathered here to pray for families of the women that have been affected by GBV. We are tired of seeing women being beaten and women being abused and we are saying we are taking a stand against this,” said Abrahams.
“We will not tolerate femicide and we will not stand back and let another woman be violated without helping.”
The programme also included a community voice segment focused on what the community believed it needed to pray for and address, followed by the lighting of candles.
Those gathered then embarked on a prayer walk from around the hall area to the main road and back to the hall. Abrahams encouraged people to play a role in supporting those affected by violence.
@albertonrecord Eden Park ward councillor, Dino Peterson, speaking at Eden Park’s anti-GBV gathering Full story on albertonrecord.co.za
“We need to stand up and speak for our own healing. People can join hands by wearing black, by praying for somebody and by speaking out,” she said.
“We all know somebody who’s affected by violence and we all can make a difference just by being there for them.”
@albertonrecord Residents gathered outside JD Thomas Hall to honour those affected by gender-based violence and call for stronger community action against abuse and femicide. Full story on albertonrecord.co.za
