GBV stories chalked on pavement

JOHANNESBURG — Using different colors of chalk, messages of hope and encouragement were written on the pavement for victims of GBV.

November 15, 2021

Comfort Makhanya 1 minute read

DA mayoral candidate Dr Mpho Phalatse writes messages of hope to the victims of gender-based violence. Photo: Comfort Makhanya

Fourways residents were among those who protested against gender-based violence.

Anti-gender-based violence organisation, Safe Space which operates around Johannesburg north, hosted the ‘chalk it up’ event in Braamfontein on October 21 to create a physical space on Civic Boulevard.

Safe Space host a ‘chalk it up’ event to give hope to the victims of gender-based violence. INSET: Messages of hope are written on the pavement. Photo Comfort Makhanya

Using different coloured chalk, messages of hope and encouragement were written on the pavement for victims of gender-based violence.

Messages of hope are written on the pavement. Photo: Comfort Makhanya

Nakita Naee’lah Dellwaria, co-founder of Safe space said, “What we are trying to do is make safer spaces in public, in the home, and the mind. Through colorful chalk messages, we hope to convey that gender-based violence victims are not alone and to share these messages with those who walk by the street.”

Co-founder of Safe Space Chloe Homer writes messages on the pavement. Photo: Comfort Makhanya

The event included guest organisations such as I matter, Slut Walk Johannesburg, and DA mayoral candidate Dr Mpho Phalatse.

Moreover, Safe Space has an interactive website where the public can access a variety of resources in the fight against gender-based violence, including emergency contact numbers, psychological resources, self-defence training, and merchandise.

Messages of hope and encouragement were written on the pavement for victims of gender-based violence. Photo: Comfort Makhanya

Dellwaria explained that the Safe Space website aimed to generate social awareness through user-based incident reporting, thereby combating gender-based violence.

DA mayoral candidate Dr Mpho Phalatse supports the anti-GBV movement. Photo: Comfort Makhanya

“We believe that social awareness is the only thing we have power over right now. We have no control over the way people perceive gender-based violence, we certainly don’t have control over our perpetrators, and we can’t even control what the police do to protect us,” Dellwaria said,

“Gender-based violence cannot be tackled overnight but we are taking the right steps in the right direction to make people aware of their surroundings.”