Stop violence against women and children

After acknowledging that 50m people are victims of human trafficking globally, the founder of Rebel Up Coaching, Ilse Jaquire started an organisation that holds campaigns to raise funds for human trafficking victims. They create community projects that help people come together to raise funds for victims of gender-based violence, sexual and human trafficking and women who are generally suffering.

“Many women were struggling during Covid-19 and many of them came to me for help. They sought assistance and I took it upon myself to leave my corporate job and help women in need. My mom was also diagnosed with stage four cancer, around the same time. I thought to myself that was the perfect timing of answering my calling of working with women,” said Jaquire.

Jaquire started the practice in 2021, with small community campaigns, and it has grown since then. She recently had Rebel Red Fridays where she encouraged women to put on red lipstick on Fridays as a form of encouragement to speak up. She did not only stop there but there was also a recent movement, Rebel Lifters, where she challenged the community to wake up at 06:00 and lift weights. This would raise awareness and create a movement to help more victims. The aim was to lift 1000kg and more people showed up for the campaign and the community ended up lifting 10 000 kg. This was during the national 16 days of activism campaign.

She continues to help gain more and fight for women suffering or being abused. During the 16 days of activism, their first project was to start lifting in aid of bringing the community together and promoting the movement. “Myself and Chi Mhende did a live global lift on December 10 along with other members of the community. The support was unbelievable, and we hope for more support in the upcoming competition next year when we are raising funds for the victims.”

She will be raising funds in the Grassroots competition in March. During this competition, she will be wearing a sunflower, which is their symbol of hope. She will be doing so to raise funds for the Home of Hope for Girls in Berea so that the girls in the home can live safely and comfortably. “We need community support to like and share our Rebel_Lifters page and also to join us for our global lift. If they cannot join, they must please take a video/picture of what they are lifting and how much and tag Rebel_Lifters with the #rebellifters.

According to Ward 94 councillor, David Foley, as a country, we need to start educating at a very young age about respect for both genders.
“Although GBV is mostly against women in the country, cultural ideologies need to be explored around the fact that the male figure is no longer the person in charge. Everyone must recognise individuality in both genders and allow persons to excel without a label,” said Foley. “We also need harsher punishment for GBV crimes, this will change behaviour. We also need to encourage women and men victims to report GBV to the SAPS.”