Corinthians Africa NPO recently hosted the first edition of its Broken Crayons Still Colour Women Empowerment Session, an initiative aimed at addressing GBVF and promoting mental health awareness among women.

The event was led by GBVF facilitator Ziyanda Tshoki, alongside Lorraine Atwell, head of the GBVF Department at Corinthians Africa.

The session created a safe and supportive space for women to share their experiences, learn about available resources, and begin their journeys towards healing and empowerment.

Speaking about the inspiration behind the initiative, Tshoki explained that cultural silence around GBVF played a major role in shaping the programme.

“Growing up, GBVF is something we were taught to turn a blind eye to, as it was none of our business,” she said. “There was even a slogan, ‘into yabantu ababini ayingenwa’, which means you do not involve yourself between two people. The aim is to break the silence and educate women to speak out against GBVF before it is too late.”

A safe space

The session also focused on mental health awareness, a topic close to Tshoki’s heart. She shared that her personal loss motivated her to ensure that women have access to support and understanding.

“I wanted to create a platform for ladies to have a safe space to speak out and know how to get help when dealing with mental health challenges,” she shared.

One of the key goals of the event was to equip participants with practical knowledge on how to seek help and access support systems. Tshoki emphasised that Corinthians Africa is committed to assisting women beyond the session.

“We aim to be a supportive structure and help connect women to the relevant stakeholders who can assist them further,” added the facilitator.

Achieving aspirations

A highlight of the day was an interactive vision board activity, where participants reflected on their personal goals and the changes they wished to make in their lives.

This exercise encouraged women to move beyond simply identifying challenges and instead focus on actionable steps towards achieving their aspirations.

“The vision board session was very thought-provoking,” she highlighted. “It is sometimes easy to say what you want to change, but actively engaging in what you can do to turn that vision into reality makes a real difference.”

Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing a desire for longer and more frequent sessions.

According to Tshoki, participants appreciated the opportunity to share their stories and learn from one another in a safe environment.

Committed to breaking the silence

Looking ahead, Corinthians Africa plans to build on the success of the first session by hosting monthly events aimed at sustaining momentum and continuing the conversation around GBVF.

“We are committed to spreading awareness and ensuring that the silence around GBVF is broken,” shared Tshoki.

The organisation is also seeking to collaborate with other groups and stakeholders to strengthen future sessions and expand its reach.

For Corinthians Africa, success for future editions of Broken Crayons Still Colour lies in continued engagement and impact.