MTHATHA – Deputy Chairperson of the Provincial Representative Council of Learners (RCL) from the Eastern Cape, Anele Madolwana, confirmed that they had celebrated Women’s Day in a different way by hosting an event aimed at educating other learners about the increasing number of abuse cases and bullying complaints in their districts, particularly in their schools.

He confirmed that the event was attended by 12 schools from the O.R. Tambo Inland District. It was held in Mthatha last week.

He said it was on that basis that they then decided to celebrate Women’s Month differently by encouraging meaningful action and participation from learner leaders to raise awareness of gender-based violence and femicide.

“As it stands, the department is not serving our schooling communities adequate justice because of the lack of education and awareness on such issues. It is only after an incident that the stakeholders seem to take action, whereas, as learner leaders, we are demanding action before the community begins to grieve.

“We believe that this programme will equip the young leaders to know how to use their voices and enlighten them on their responsibility to serve and protect,” he said.

He added that it also aimed to give women and girls a platform to lead and express themselves in a society that would not discriminate against them.

Madolwana said this initiative will have a lasting impact on the learners and definitely on the future of their community.

He added that as learners, they are facing the growing challenge of substance abuse, sexual harassment, bullying and assault — difficulties that are threatening young lives and destroying the future potential of the learners.

“Schools should instil practices that prioritise the constitutional value of respect, human dignity and equality. They should develop a culture that guides how learners treat each other and a thorough understanding of the importance of protecting those around us.

“There should be programmes that are aimed at empowering the girl child while not neglecting the male counterpart, creating an equal and balanced society. Awareness should be raised on a regular basis, and subsequently, punishment upon breaching the policy or code of conduct must be non-negotiable.”

He added, “It is unfortunate that the victims of such harm are not given the mental and even physical support they rightfully deserve. They are dismissed as attention seekers when they use their voices instead of being embraced and assisted on their journey of recovery.”

Madolwana said more harm is done by people who claim to support the survivors than by the culprits themselves.

“It was the first event I coordinated, and as a result, we wish to engage learners in all national holidays through meaningful initiatives like this. We are in the process of forming a junior learner parliament that will be responsible for programme development and policy improvements in schools, which will report directly to the Provincial RCL and the Department of Education in order to solve such problems and coordinate events of this nature annually. This needs support from multiple departments and stakeholders for it to be a success.”

He said he would like to give each learner the responsibility of ensuring that they do not keep quiet in the face of injustice. He stated that learners should not merely be activists but should also be the change they desire to see in other people and in their communities.

“One person can change everything. If we come together as learners in this fight against gender-based violence and femicide, we will conquer and protect our loved ones.”

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