Braam street chalked up with GBV messages
JOHANNESBURG – Using different colors of chalk, messages of hope and encouragement were written on the pavement for victims of GBV.
Anti-gender-based violence organisation, Safe Space, continues to give hope to the victims of gender-based violence.
The organisation hosted a ‘chalk it up’ event in Braamfontein on October 21 to create a physical space on Civic Boulevard. Using different coloured chalk, messages of hope and encouragement were written on the pavement for victims of gender-based violence.
Speaking to the Gazette, 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.”
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.
Dellwaria explained that the Safe Space website aimed to generate social awareness through user-based incident reporting, thereby combating gender-based violence.
“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.”
Details: For more information or if you want to share your story readers are advised to visit www.safespacersa.com
