A Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) awareness initiative took place on Thursday 22 January at the Langebaan Thusong Centre.
The event brought together community members, partners and elders in a safe and reflective space focused on healing through writing.
Anzil Kulzen, a representative of the Afrikaanse Taal- en Kultuurvereniging (ATKV), presented the session. Her facilitation highlighted the power of writing as a tool for expression, healing and the preservation of lived experiences.
The programme formed part of a collaborative partnership among the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), ATKV and the Silver Tree Elderly Club, with a shared commitment to community healing and meaningful GBVF awareness.
Unlike traditional awareness programmes, this initiative encouraged participants to write their personal and collective histories, particularly experiences related to trauma, resilience and healing. The motivation behind the programme was to help individuals reclaim their voices, process emotional wounds and contribute to a written legacy that acknowledges pain while affirming hope and restoration.
The involvement of the Silver Tree Elderly Club added depth to the programme, allowing intergenerational wisdom and reflection to play a central role. Elders were encouraged to document stories that may otherwise be lost, reinforcing the importance of storytelling as both healing and historical preservation.
This partnership-driven initiative demonstrated that GBVF awareness can move beyond statistics and slogans to become a human-centred, restorative process. By writing healing history, participants were reminded that their stories matter and that healing is possible when communities are given the tools and space to express themselves.
