City of Cape Town launched a programme named ‘Women for Change’. The programme has brought together a group of participants who showed their skills on the wall and got their hands dirty, helping to spread the message about gender-based violence.
The women supported professional lead artist – Skumbuzo Salman in painting a gender-based violence themed mural at the Lentegeur Civic Centre on April 26, 2024.
Reportedly, the mural was the final step in a series of engagement to capacitate the women as advocates against gender-based violence, from the time they joined the Women for Change programme in mid-November 2023.
However, the mural was certainly among one of the more colourful assignments that the group also spent at the festive season on the beaches, assisting with the very successful Identikidz initiative and attended numerous skills and capacity building programmes.
This mainly included the computer training, first-aid training, conflict management and training in Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). The groups were able to put their skills to use in various City departments.
Additionally, the 10-day Art of Healing Programme, attended by the groups majorly impacted on their lives and allowed them to work through past trauma and personal challenges. The ladies which were included from the Lentegeur and Rocklands were Nazley Fredericks, Melanie Koopman, Shannon Isaacs, Michaela Adams, Sonja Woest, Cynthia Hendricks and Natalie Plaatjies.
Women for Change programme participants helped paint a gender-based violence mural at Lentegeur Civic Centre, marking a departure from their usual schedule. The mural serves as a reminder of the importance of honest conversations and action to address GBV.#CTNews pic.twitter.com/zoh2BEh6tr
— City of Cape Town (@CityofCT) May 11, 2024
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Services and Health Councillor – Patricia Van der Ross said that the project was quite the departure from the rest of the Women for Change schedule, as the women literally had spray cans in hand.
“They were guided by our wonderful lead artist, to tell a very compelling story,” said Councillor Ross.
The Gender-based violence continues to be a part of one of the biggest challenges of the society and cuts across so many divides. Moreover, the mural also screams the importance of honest conversations and action to address gender-based violence.
Councillor Patricia Van der Ross expressed that she is confident that the participants will remain advocates for the change, and courtesy of all they had over the past six months on the programme.
