SPAR gender-based violence workshop held at Lowveld Botanical Garden
The theme front and centre at the event was ‘SPAR unmasking GBV’.
SPAR Lowveld hosted a groundbreaking workshop under the theme, ‘SPAR Unmasking GBV,’ which raised awareness about gender-based violence (GBV), at the Lowveld Botanical Garden last Friday, November 22.
The workshop included insightful presentations, panel discussions and interactive sessions that focused on key topics about the prevalence of GBV in South Africa, the impact it has on victims and survivors, and the role of individuals and organisations in combatting this scourge.
“By hosting this workshop, we hope to empower the community and organisations to offer a platform that amplifies the voices of survivors, promotes a culture of consistent collaboration and advocates for policy changes that support organisations and survivors,” said Bella Mogane, the PR, sponsorships and events controller.
The event was pioneered by Tsepo Mogale, an intern who is part of SPAR’s Seta programme.
“He saw a gap in the community within the month of 16 Days of Activism to bring community leaders, NPOs and experts in their fields to collaborate in discussions and resources to help combat a common issue faced in many areas in our communities,” said Mogane.
The workshop promoted bystander intervention and encouraged participants to take action when they witness or suspect GBV. During the event, practical tips and strategies were shared to help individuals intervene safely and effectively.
There were various speakers who shared insightful information – Sibusiso Mthembu of SANCA Lowveld, Khethiwe Simelane of the AFSA Global Fund and Captain Dimpho Nkosi of the SAPS – who equipped the organisations with the knowledge to be able to further address any challenges they had.
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The Sesi Lomkhulu Foundation, GRIP, Child Welfare Nelspruit, Grace Victims, Simunye Home-based Care, Lifa Lesive, the Institute of Health Programmes and Systems, SANCA Lowveld and the Thuthuzela Community Centre were present.
SPAR donated sanitary packs to the organisations to equip them with resources for care packs for victims.
“We hope to further provide workshops to more organisations in the future. We would like to send a special thanks to our sponsor, the Lowveld Botanical Garden, for the venue,” said Mogane.
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