Themba Primary keeps week of mourning

GEORGE NEWS - Thembalethu Primary School kept a week of mourning this past week to coincide with the start of 16 Days of Activism.

Ntsikie Morgan, the learner support teacher at the school, said like in many other schools, Thembalethu Primary has had incidents of reported sexual assaults of girls by family members that they trust.

Therefore, it is important that the school educates learners on gender-based violence (GBV) to equip them to say NO to these cruel vultures and to be able to speak openly about them. This, in addition, educates boys to respect others, including girls and those who are different from them.

The school ran a few educational programmes last week with the focus on GBV, respect for both sexes, communication, boundaries and how violence affects the body.

The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children is a United Nations campaign that takes place annually from 25 November to 10 December.

During this period, Government, together with civil society and the private sector, hosts a series of community and sector dialogues and activities in a collaborative effort about dealing with GBV.

This message was highlighted when President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his address to the nation regarding Covid-19 on 11 November, said South Africans should take five days of mourning for those who have lost their lives, not only to Covid-19, but also to GBV.

Thembalethu Primary School joined in these dialogues by engaging learners as well as educators in open discussion about the impact of GBV.

Posters the learners made about saying No.