Sun International empowers local learners to speak out against GBV

For the second consecutive year, Sun International has partnered with Father a Nation to host workshops on GBV at two local schools.

The aim of these educational workshops is to empower learners to seek help about either being victims or knowing someone who is suffering from sexual or any form of abuse.

The hospitality group, which has a stated socio-economic development focus on education, funded the 90-minute workshops for Grades 9, 10 and 11s at Eldomain High School and Klipspruit West Senior Secondary School with the aim of teaching learners important lessons on positive masculinity.

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Father a Nation facilitator, Sydney Madibo, a qualified educator and seasoned trainer facilitated the sessions with the learners.

“The interactions with the learners were centred around teaching the youth in schools about GBV and the many different forms it takes and how they, young as they are, can take part in the fight against this problem. I ask interactive questions to facilitate discussions, but sensitively so as not to trigger anyone,” said Madibo.

In one of the exercises, learners were asked for their opinions on whether whistling at a female learner by male learners while walking to class is a form of abuse.

“A female learner shared her own opinion as to why she considers this abuse, that it made her uncomfortable and feel like a target, or a piece of meat,” explained Madibo.

“The learners were not aware that this was a form of abuse, rather that it was just ‘boys being boys’. So it was a ‘aha’ moment which is interactive and the kids love it. We get them thinking about what is wrong and why.”

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Male learners who stood up to share their opinions received snack packs and females received a copy of Smile, Shimmer, Shine, an inspirational book for high schoolers written by Sun International’s Transformation Manager, Ashnie Muthasamy.

Challenges faced by teachers include that they often refrain from reprimanding learners and talking to them about their behaviour, fearing that learners could react with violence.

“A lack of parental involvement is pertinent and some learners are hostile and aggressive at school as a result of having to take on adult responsibilities at a young age. Others don’t receive any guidance and lessons from home,” Madibo said.

Madibo said most victims of sexual abuse were closely related to their abuser. “So, if they are kids who have never been taught that someone is not supposed to touch you, they may not be able to understand that it is wrong.”

Because GBV happens every day, Sun International has partnered with Father a Nation to host these workshops at schools ahead of 16 Days of Activism with an aim of empowering young people to be part of the fight against GBV.