York High School honours women with soul

Gallery Video

GEORGE NEWS & VIDEO - The whole of last week was set aside to honour women with close connections to York High. As a project of the representative council of learners (RCL), the initiative came from one of their members, Grade 9 learner Danica Orange (15).

"I feel that I have reached my goal, which was to bring awareness about women's resilience and strength. It was an honour to honour these women and hear their stories," said Danica.

The week kicked off on Monday 1 August with a visit from ex-Yorkie Tanya Scholtz, who is currently a member of the Springbok women's rugby team. Scholtz talked about unconventional successes by women.

On Wednesday the school participated in a fun walk in aid of Phambili shelter for abused women and children, and on Friday they closed off with a motivation talk by another ex-Yorkie, Alison Botha, well-known survivor of gender-based violence.

Botha's son Matthew is currently in Grade 10 at York and her elder son Daniël was head boy of the school.

PHOTO GALLERY: York High learners focus on GBV in August

In addition, each day of the week the school honoured a female staff member, by giving a small tribute to each of the teachers: Mss Buys, Klaassen, Stellenberg, Van der Linde and Jonklaas.

VIDEO: Alison Botha warns teenagers to be extra vigilant

Survivor

Alison Botha gave a brief third-person recap of the incident that changed her life forever. Almost 28 years ago, on 18 December 1994, she was abducted near her home in Port Elizabeth. By the end of the night, she had been raped, stabbed, disembowelled and left for dead. But she survived.

"They stabbed me so many times, doctors couldn't really tell the number of stab wounds. But the best part of the story is, I survived," she said. The learners responded to this with loud applause.

"I really hope that my story would serve as a warning. I never blamed myself for what happened, but I was careless," said Botha. "So, in a way, I do hope my story frightens you. One has to ask: how can I be more careful?"

She gave the learners food for thought: "Don't allow that which you can't do, to stop you from doing what you can do. Although you didn't bring down crime statistics with your walk on Wednesday, the money you raised will help real people."

She said gender-based violence is not only a girl's problem. "It is a society problem, of which we are all part. These crimes changes lives, and can happen to anyone. As teenagers you will push boundaries. " It is not right that I have to tell you to be careful and that there are bad guys out there. But it is true."

Alison Botha delivered a strong message. Photo: Michelle Pienaar

Control

Botha said it is important to control the things you have control over. "What you wear, what you share online are all things you control. After what happened to me, I wanted to pick up any girl who hitch-hikes. Not to give them a lift, but to give them a lecture."

She said that should something bad have happened to you, it is important to accept it, but also to do something about it. "That incident is never your whole story; it is just a chapter in your life. The way you respond to a bad incident is in your control."

A sea of Yorkies listen attentively to Alison Botha's motivational speech.