Edenvale GBV activist earns national award nomination
"I understand what many survivors go through and endure."
Community stakeholder Fiona Pickett has been nominated for the Fifth National Annual Gender-Based Violence Awards for her work, which includes helping others and empowering those in need.
The awards aim to celebrate individuals and organisations dedicated to combating gender-based violence.
The awards will be held on May 30 at the ANEW Hotel & Convention Centre at OR Tambo International Airport.
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“I am humbled, honoured, and grateful to have been nominated in the best female GBV activist category. I am being nominated, it feels unreal,” said Pickett.
“For me, since being nominated, I feel like I am more in the public eye, and I have asked myself how I can help more.”
She said the work she has done in the community has been about standing with survivors and speaking up for those who feel unheard.
She said it has been about working towards safer communities for women and children.
Pickett witnesses GBV in the community from two different perspectives.
She is a centre manager for Community Provision and Social Services (Compass), which is a small NPO which provides support to women and children.
She also assists law enforcement as the Edenvale CPF’s Gender-Based Violence coordinator.
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The ECPF and SAPS provide support to the community at Edenvale Police Station’s Green Room.
Pickett said she herself was in a relationship that was very emotional and mentally abusive.
“Only once the relationship ended did I realise the abusive patterns and the effects that it had on my children and me, said Pickett.
She said getting out of that situation and relationship was such a relief.
“With the work that I do at Compass and with the SAPS, I understand what many survivors go through and endure.
She explained that, as someone who assists others, you cannot get too personally invested.
“You have to protect yourself.”
Pickett explained that over the years, she has thought about the people she has assisted many times.
“Many of them heal and move on, but I do my check-ins.”
Pickett said one of the challenges many victims of GBV face is the lack of available facilities.
“There are no available shelters or halfway houses for many women to get into unless they have a protection order or they have opened a case related to gender-based violence,” said Pickett.
To vote for Pickett SMS GBVA FIONA to 47439 SMS costs R3.
For more information, visit the Gender-Based Violence Awards Facebook page or email infotrwnco@gmail.com
