The Greater Benoni Child Welfare (GBCW), are ensuring that children who have been exposed to or heard about gender-based violence will not mimic what their elders do.
To highlight the effects of abuse on children and to educate victims on where to go, the organisation will host a massive awareness campaign at the Marivate Park in Daveyton on December 9 from 09:00 to 14:00.
The organisation is expecting to accommodate 500 people to join it as it calls attention to the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children that is marked from November 25 to December 10.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of the negative impact violence and abuse have on women and children.
Director of GBCW Vanessa Carlse said there has been an increase in abuse and awareness of these issues needs to be increased.
“Abuse isn’t only physical or sexual – neglect, abandonment and withholding financial support is also considered abuse,” she said.
“The severe impact of abuse on children is seen in their values and affects their core experiences.
“While some children decided to do what the abuser has done, others would seek abusive relationships as they get older because that is their definition of love.”
In an attempt to try and change the narrative, social workers from the organisation will be there to offer free risk assessments to clients on the day.
“We do risk assessments to help people identify an abusive relationship, some might think they are not because it is not as severe as other cases and once that is identified, we will assist them with information on where they can go for help.”
Organisations that deal with violence and abuse are invited to present their services and the SAPS will be present on the day.
To raise funds for the organisations and to give other organisations an opportunity to raise funds, the event will include a market day where items of the charity shop will be sold as well as food and cooldrinks.
Other vendors and organisations are welcome to book a spot and sell items on the day, normal vendors will be charged R200 and NPOs will be charged R100.
To make the day a success, the organisation needs your help through donations of tents, chairs, long extensions and food supplies that they can sell on the day.
For more information on what vendors can sell on the day and how you can help, contact Carlse on 011 849 5241.
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