Saturday 4 March 2023 saw the third instalment of Teenz Alive’s Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Awareness Campaign, in Oyster Place, Avondale.
The campaign has a specific focus area, being the various blocks of flats in Atlantis. It was initiated in May 2022 in Albatross Place and continued in Gullhaven Court six months later. Carol Koopman (right on photo), co-founder of TeenzAlive, says the awareness campaign aims to let people know that there are different shapes and forms of GBV, and the team make sure they tackle each one. “The campaign focuses on all the different factors of GBV, as people tend to think domestic violence is the only form of GBV because it is so common. But we are here to change the narratives and change mindsets,” Koopman explained. As part of the day`s programme, various organisations and community activists come together to help raise awareness. Organisations like the Survivors Haven Foundation, the local neighbourhood watch and other activists focused on the deeper factors that play a role in violence in our communities, the image the community portray and the environment the community settle for. Koopman explained that the main goal is to help people open up and seek help. “Every time we have our campaign, people come forward with cases. We also highlight men who abuse and are victims of abuse, as well as the plight of senior citizens. We therefore hope that more people will come forward.”
