Hitting a six against GBV

GEORGE NEWS - Legally You and Thutuzela Care Centre, together with members of the Gender-based Violence (GBV) Forum and Pacaltsdorp Police, hosted a sport festival at the New Dawn Park sports grounds on Saturday 23 September to create more awareness of GBV.

The day started with a game of vlakkie-krieket between the GBV stakeholders team and Evergreens Rugby Club.

The organisers decided to use vlakkiekrieket to bring together communities in aid of creating awareness about GBV.

Due to rain, other activities such as the self-defence demonstration were moved indoors. During this demonstration, that focused on protecting yourself against a GBV situation, attendees were invited to ask specific questions relating to GBV.

"Not even the rain was going to stop us from creating awareness," said Thuthuzela's Angelique Vezasi.

Advocate Marilyn Scheepers Olifant, Alexa Vezasi, Eligh Vezasi and Angelique Vezasi watch James Olieslager (on the floor) and Shaun Jansen of the Marshall Arts Academy leading the self-defence demonstration.

Plans for the next GBV sport festival are already in the pipeline and if all goes according to plan, it will take place on Saturday 14 October.

"We want to unite the communities in an environment where men and women can interact without GBV while learning more about this crime that has become a pandemic in our country," said Adv Marilyn Scheepers Olifant of Legally You.

Members of the group who joined on the day.