“A team of 100 community-based GBVF ambassadors has been activated across the country to grapple with, and bring down, the epidemic numbers of GBVF incidents in South Africa. The ambassadors are working across a broad range of communities – from inner city neighbourhoods to towns and villages in peri-urban areas – where GBVF is especially rife and hotspots have been identified.” Aged between 18 and 35, all have a background in gender-focused community work and live in the communities they serve. They work in groups of five, going from door to door to discuss GBV with community members, leaders and other stakeholders. They arrange information-sharing sessions/community dialogues (with traditional leaders, law enforcement officers and faith-based leaders, among others), and meet people in common gathering spots (taxi ranks, for example) to distribute literature and initiate conversations about GBVF. They also work with survivors, encouraging them to seek help and recourse. Their work is in close collaboration with qualified GBVF social workers. The GBVF ambassadors are supported through the Health and Welfare Sector and Education Authority (HWSETA), affiliated to the Department of Social Development; the National Institute Community Development and Aged between 18 and 35, all have a background in gender-focused community work and live in the communities they serve. Since the implementation of the ambassadorship programme, Lusikisiki has dropped to 11th place nationally for GBVF incidents per capita although it remains a GBVF hotspot. Management (NICDAM) and a number of other groups invested in righting gender inequality and eliminating GBVF. The ambassador project was founded two years ago in response to escalating GBVF numbers noted during the Covid-19 lockdown and the related risk of HIV infections. The work of the ambassadors is steadily making South Africa a safer place for women and other vulnerable people. For example, the Eastern Cape town of Lusikisiki has for years been the GBVF capital of South Africa.
November 2023 | Collective Action Magazine
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