By Owethu Nokhangela and Zipho Ndwayana
In collaboration with Joza police and community leaders, Gift of the Givers set out to various schools in Makhanda on Thursday to educate learners about gender-based violence, sexual assault and bullying while also showering the children with much-needed gifts.
In the initiative, three primary schools – Makana, Archie Mbolekwa and DD Siwisa, were visited.
Joza police station commander, Colonel Nomsa Mtshagi, Makana Municipality councillor Ramie Xonxa, pastors and community members, accompanied the members of the popular NGO.
Mtshagi addressed the children. “We are here… as we work with everyone to fight
against GBV so that children can be comfortable with reporting violence that they happen to witness at
firsthand in their homes.” She called on the learners to refrain from bullying each other, encouraging them to be respectful.
The local Community Policing Forum was also represented at the event and a representative from the SAPS’ Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit, advised the learners to report, without the fear of being judged, anything wrong that was done to their bodies. “Your body is your pride,” she shouted and urged the learners to repeat after her.
Learners from the different schools were excited to receive their beanies and illustrated their gratitude to the organization. A grade 7 learner from Archie Mbolekwa stated, “I am excited and thankful to get a hat because I do not own one and I know that many learners struggle to buy hats as they are expensive and they cannot afford them.”
On the other side, learners from Makana Primary School stated that the initiative was educational because they learned more about gender-based violence and now know how to protect themselves and how to go on about the issue should they find themselves as victims or witnesses.
Kwanele Damane, a member of Gift of the Givers, explained that Gift of the Givers also provides counselling through its toll- free number.
Damane shared that the learners were quite responsive to the whole programme despite the fact that they are primary school learners and that “even though this is our first time here, we do see potential and we are now hoping that our work will come into play and help the kids to open up”.
