Social worker Teniel Carter called upon the residents of the coloured area to unite and march to the Albany Road recreation hall to tackle the violence and drug abuse that haunts the community.
Social worker Teniel Carter called upon the residents of the coloured area to unite and march to the Albany Road recreation hall to tackle the violence and drug abuse that haunts the community.
About 80 residents, members of churches and civic groups from the area and the extended Grahamstown community marched from the cathedral to the hall on Thursday 5 December. These included pupils from Good Shepherd Primary School, Makana Rape Survivors Group and Sisters from the Community of the Resurrection.
Carter, who works for the department of social development, wanted to reach out to the community on a spiritual level to fight violence and abuse against women and children.
"There is violence and it is getting worse and worse," Carter said. "We wanted to encourage people to never lose hope or give up."
People who live in poverty have low self-esteem, she said. Through the march she hoped to uplift the people by encouraging their belief that they are powerful, strong and capable. "Especially women and children who've been hurt and harmed."
President of the Catholic Women's League at St Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Dorothy Davies, wishes crime could be reduced.
She hopes for a change that will see drug abuse, violence in the home and the streets, as well as other community problems disappear.
At the march the Anglican Bishop of Grahamstown, Ebenezer Ntlali, said he wants the community to rise up and value themselves as human beings.
He urged people to carry each other's burdens, and said there are plans to help families start self-help projects.
"Starting from today we are going to gel with the community and look for means to help them start their own businesses due to the high unemployment rate," Ntlali said.
Dean Andrew Hunter said it was good to dedicate a day to raising awareness about abuse before the festive season begins.
"The schools are all closed and there are more problems and struggles at home this time of the year," he said.
"It is a good time to dedicate a day to thevictims. As we wrap up the year we merely commit ourselves to seeing God's will being done in society," Hunter said.
Eunice De Klerk, a member of the New Apostolic Church, says if people can unite and support each other they can help to end the vicious cycle of abuse.
"I hope the march will help a lot of people. I hope they will come up with strategies to start support groups where people who are abused can talk about their experiences to help them realise that they are not alone," she said.
De Klerk said abuse is a problem affecting everyone – not just women and children.
"It is not only about women and children, but men also because they sometimes are the victims of abuse.
"Support groups are also needed in workplaces so that people can share their home experiences at work during tea-time and discuss the way out," De Klerk said.
"I wish there were more people [at the march]," Sue Hennessy said. She is a volunteer teacher at Good Shepherd and Amasango Career School. "I am very happy to be part of the people who are dedicating their time to helping the women and children of South Africa."
The march formed part of the local 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children.
Between 25 November and 10 December the international campaign seeks to raise awareness around the abuse of women and children.
