Yesterday marked the start of this year’s 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign.

The annual United Nations campaign runs until December 10 (International Human Rights Day) and in South Africa it paints a painful truth: Too many homes have become places of harm rather than healing.

As the world turns purple in solidarity against gender-based violence, Girls and Boys Town South Africa (GBTSA) highlights a powerful belief that every child deserves a home rooted in safety, love, dignity and possibility. It also believes that every family has a potential to grow, rebuild and heal.

For GBTSA the 16-days movement is not a seasonal campaign, it is their everyday mission through the voices of the young people they guide, the families they support and the communities they serve.

GBTSA works closely with children who have experienced neglect, trauma, conflict and instability. The organisation believes that with the right support, young people can bloom again and heal. Through hope, they rediscover trust, learn to regulate emotions, find their voice and build meaningful relationships and shine.

GBTSA’s work is grounded in creating environments where children can say, “I feel safe here. I am seen. I matter,” which is the heart of the organisation’s therapeutic and residential programmes.

Strengthening families, one conversation at a time

The organisation acknowledges that when families heal, communities heal and it is for this reason they support families in communities and focus on rebuilding the fabric of home life:

• Helping parents learn positive communication,
• supporting caregivers through counselling,
• guiding families through conflict resolution,
• and surrounding each child with a network of adults who care.

Sometimes healing begins with a single honest conversation, a parent saying: “I’m trying,” or a child whispering “I am ready to trust again.” The organisation walks with families through these moments, believing that growth begins with compassion.

Advocacy rooted in humanity

This year, GBTSA raises a simple but profound message: “Violence is not destiny. Healing is possible.”

The organisation’s advocacy is not just about statistics but it’s about stories:

• The teenager who found their voice again.
• The family that learned how to reconnect.
• The caregiver who discovered new ways to nurture.
• The community that rallied around its children.

These stories remind us that change does not happen in rallies or in hashtags alone. It happens in the small, brave steps families take every day.

Together, we can reimagine home

The organisation invites South Africans to join them not just in awareness, but in action, to check in on a child, support a struggling parent, challenge harmful behaviours. Because when children feel protected, they grow differently and when families are strengthened, communities transform. Through this, we all get a chance as a community to take responsibility and move closer to a South Africa where every child can say: Home is my safe place.

About Girls and Boys Town South Africa

Since 1958, the organisation has been a sanctuary of healing heartbroken children. Their mission is to mend the invisible wounds of those who have faced unimaginable challenges, guiding them towards a future filled with promise and possibility.

Imagine a child whose laughter has been stifled by hardship and loss. At Girls and Boys Town South Africa they embrace these children with open arms, offering them more than just a place to stay — they give them a chance to reclaim their joy, rediscover their inner strength, and build a future they can be proud of.

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