PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Overall objective:
The major purpose of this project is to train young men how to communicate in order to develop advocacy tactics to abolish gender-based violence and achieve gender equality in a society where gender mainstreaming is an inherent part of the structure. Some approaches that foster interaction and discussion, such as group work, case studies, buzz groups, brainstorming, and educational games, have been used to reflect on this topic. There have been some approaches that enable interaction and discussion in order to reflect on this topic, such as group work, case studies, buzz groups, brainstorming, and educational games.
Immediate objectives:
The project's purpose is to enhance gender-based violence (GBV) awareness throughout Cape Peninsula University of Technology campuses and society by describing the many types of GBV, reflecting on women rights in the context of GBV, and establishing a plan of action to combat GBV.
Results of the workshops:
1. During this workshop, the following topics and discussions were raised: gender and human rights; examples of GBV in South Africa; forms of gender-based violence; key international instruments on women's rights; forms of gender-based violence at home, in the workplace, and in the community; gender and women's rights; plans of action and transformation; and workshop evaluation.
2. GBV is defined as any act against women, girls, men, or boys that causes physical, sexual, or psychological harm; any sexual, physical abuse, or arbitrary deprivation of rights, freedom, or public liberty that occurs in private or public life; and all of these forms of GBV can be committed by an individual, group, or institution.
3. Discussion where Human Rights were tied to Gender issues by stressing how culturally determined gender roles, duties, and opportunities make women vulnerable to Human Rights violations; How many nations have embraced the universal Human Rights to protect all individuals but failed to domesticate them? How many laws discriminate against women, particularly in terms of access to public life, paid work, education, and finances; How culture and religion are sometimes used to suppress women's demands for their rights; how high levels of poverty and illiteracy among women restrict them from understanding and fighting for their Human Rights.
4. It's time for a new approach to ending gender-based violence (GBV) to emerge, one that calls for fundamental societal reforms such as addressing inequalities like poverty, ignorance, and hunger, as well as creating and enforcing legislation to combat the problem.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This report is a result of training that was held at Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville campus, on May 14th, 2022. It was made possible due to the support of the Centre for Diversity, Inclusivity & Social Change in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor. As a coordinator, I would wish to thank uMama Nonkosi Tyolwana for their enormous support that enabled me to implement my initiative.
A special thanks also goes to Mr. Siyabulela Monakali and Mr. Ludwe Nkomo from the non-profit organization Ilitha Labantu, who were workshop facilitators, as well as Mr. Abongile Nzelenzele, a media and communication specialist.
INTRODUCTION
In the opening of the workshop Mr. Siyabulela Monakali from Ilitha Labantu elaborated very well the role of Ilitha Labantu in empowering men in various aspects.
Participants characteristics: Participants came from CPUT, Bellville campus and non-government organizations (NGOs).
METHODOLOGY
The training was co-facilitated by Mr. Siyabulela Monakali, Mr. Ludwe Nkomo from Ilitha Labantu and Mr. Abongile Nzelenzele.
They used a variety of adult learning approaches such as brainstorming, conversations, questions and answers, group work, role plays, case studies, and so on, as well as brief presentations.
WORKSHOP PROCEEDINGS
Opening and welcoming
Mr. Tumiso Mfisa- Diversity and inclusivity assistant, centre for diversity, inclusive and social change:
Our core purpose is to ensure that men throughout all CPUT campuses, not just those on the Bellville campus, are constantly engaged to fight gender-based violence. So, the key objective in the entire setting is to make sure that you have the necessary authority. Why do you think you understand GBV? What are our responsibilities as men? How can we expand in the space we're in so that we can achieve Vision2030's mandate of growing awareness in CPUT? Don't let us show you how to be a leader; instead, show you how leaders want you to be leaders in your own right and in your own space. However, if you want to unlearn and learn from others as a leader, you must also learn from others.
I always urge people to ask questions since it is difficult to lead in this job without clarity. You will be left in the dark. And when the obstacles and issues are presented outside, you will be perceived as uninformed. After asking those questions, I'd like you to provide some guidance. Make sure you
adopt our structure, and how do we move forward? So, we're embarking on a journey that's been going on for a long time.
Mr. Nanga Codana- CSRC President:
I must recognize the importance of this program in inviting us as business professionals to discuss, share, and give support messages. We must recognize the developments in these instruments when we gather in these programs. For me, analysis was a challenge. I say this mostly because, in many circumstances, we must state that it is always about women's voices. Women's voices are important, but we've never had the chance to have males return and set their own standards. As a result, having a position on all digital waivers, including transgender-based organs, is critical. And there are moments when a man requires the assistance of another guy, when a man requires the exchange of ideas about what is going on in society. Our dignity stems not only from within ourselves, but also from our refusal to compromise.
We know that if we go out there and try to alter the attitudes of people who are still keeping you in this situation, we can change it. So, we must break ties here, but our engagement must be beneficial, seeking to promote fairness, inclusivity, and ensuring that we represent as many as our own dignity, as well as ensuring that we defend the lives of people around us and our communities as men. If I can hit you with a stick, I suppose the first thing you'll do is run with your arm folded as a shield. Because that is why males were created in the first place: to protect everyone. We're here to take that stance. It cannot be that a woman cannot work or freely roam the campus at night. Due to these men, women cannot come to campus wearing their own clothing and acting in their own manner. When it comes to gender-free institutions, safe universities are a must.
Participant Introduction:
This was an icebreaker designed to make people feel at ease. Mr. Tumiso Mfisa kicked off the class with an appreciative inquiry technique. This strategy, which is another positive way of looking at things and people, enabled participants to get to know one other by name.
SESSION 1: Mr. Siyabulela Monakali- Communication Manager, and Head of Education Outreach Department
TOPIC: Setting the scene: Conceptualizing GBV in South Africa and how men can play their tole in eradicating GBV.
I don't want to say "ladies and gentlemen" because it's not that the language isn't gender-inclusive; we now recognize the need to be inclusive of all genders. We must acknowledge that there are multiple genders, that there are more than simply males and females, and that gender is flexible. Gender is forever evolving. If you can enter a room and say, "Ladies and gentlemen," you're making a mistake because I may not identify as a lady or a gentleman, but as something else. Consequently, when we learn, we begin to comprehend our own comprehension. All of these ideas were taught to us as we were growing up, and now we must unlearn some of the things we once believed to be true.
To give you a brief overview of the Ilitha Labantu organization, Ilitha Labantu, a social service and educational organization founded in 1989, focuses on addressing and helping victims of abuse against women and children. For many years we have collaborated with universities such as CPUT, UWC, and UCT. I recall that in 2011 there was a problem. This entire "blesser thing" issue has been a major concern among CPUT students, particularly on the Belleville campus.
As an organization, we became aware that many young women were being preyed upon by guys outside known as 'blessers,' who used money to sexually exploit women. And, obviously, you can see what's going on with the "Parklands" situation now. So, it's not a brand-new concept. It is something that occurs, although it does not always occur in the same circumstances. It happens in areas you might not expect, such as churches.
We automatically presume that the event will take place in the township, an informal community, or somewhere else. That is the story that has always been promoted. And that narrative is quite harmful in terms of our own knowledge, because we have now been fed a false narrative.
I always make it known to the media because they help to shape public perceptions of where and how gender-based violence occurs. When you look it up, especially in South Africa, gender-based violence, the perpetrator is typically viewed as a black man, and the victim is seen as a black woman, and they propagate all of this until we are conditioned to believe it. When we see something in the news about a lady being brutalized or murdered or whatever, we immediately think of black people, even before we read the story. And even within that, you'll have to consider it in that perspective. If we're talking about GBV and similar incidents, and we recognize the image and story that has been promoted, we're talking about a black man vs a black lady.
Unfortunately, your blackness is your gift to your pals. No matter where you move, you will always feel compelled to give back to your community. And these are the things we all wish to preach to the next generation. Remember where you came from. When you forget where you came from, because you will graduate here at the end of the day. Who will then take on the job of mentorship in your community? White folks talk about money and other nice things from an early age. They aren't going to suffer, not that they don't, but they aren't going to suffer to the point of seeking 'blessers' like our black girls, because we don't have money, which regrettably has become the norm.
“It is easy to attribute these actions on foreign nationals. because they are a convenient scapegoat rather than ourselves. Because when they arrived, the problem was already present. Therefore, it is simple for us as South African men to point out that it was foreign immigrants in order to avoid responsibility.”
TERMINOLOGY:
The terms "victim" and "survivor" have various meanings.
Not everyone is a victim because not everyone is a victim survivor. A victim survivor is someone who has fled an abusive situation and seeks help from an organization. That person supports a survivor. The victim is someone who is stuck in that situation and has never sought assistance.
CASE STUDY 1
Karabo Mokoena: This young lady is 22 years old. Her boyfriend murdered her in her flat and burned her beyond recognition. He did it in his Sandton luxury flat. He then set fire to her. Everyone is aware of who she was. It was in your face because the media pushed it onto you. I don't mind if it's shoved in your face because her story deserved to be told. When you evaluate her story and look at what is described in the story, you will notice that these are young folks who appear extremely attractive. How could this have happened to such a lovely young lady? That was a narrative promoted by our media. Unfortunately, as the recipients of all this information, we were likewise perplexed as to how it could have happened to her. That is how the media spreads.
CASE STUDY 2:
“These criminals disregard our communities and our well-being as individuals.”
Amahle Quku (17): Her body was found dumped in the Siyahlala informal settlement in Browns Farm days after she was last seen by her family in June 2020. She was raped killed by an acquaintance. Amahle was found murdered and naked in Brown's Farm, Philippi.
General theme for the first session: It is not a simple task to handle issues of violence. It has a huge impact on you as a person since you will now have to cope with challenges that force you to question many things. But, when you're working and dealing with GBV concerns, you have to understand that you'll need to be well-equipped. The topic of addressing GBV is not a glamorous one. We wish it were more glamorous, but it's not. It causes discomfort.
SESSION 2: Mr. Ludwe Nkomo- Education Outreach Stakeholder Coordinator
TOPIC: Community engagement and interventions (awareness raising on and off campus).
Educational and Informative: When children are young, they will be drawn to you based on the color of your clothing. This is a part of the kindergarten campaign. It is easier for children to pay attention to what you say if you are wearing a bright color like yellow or blue. However, the setting is what really matters. What is the best way to get these little ones to sit up straight? We must sit at the same height as their chairs. However, when you get down to their level, they find it quite exciting to converse with you because they believe you are one of them. Teaching young children to recite a message that will reach their parents in the event of sexual assault is crucial. It makes it easier for children to report sexual abuse. Because the youngster is talking about sensitive parts, the parent will be triggered.
Aside from academics, children must understand what sexual assault is. This is a part of the primary school campaign. In high schools, it's hard because you have to deal with children who are already sexually active and don't understand what consent means. The pilot project is all about passing the message and receiving the message. What are your plans as an ambassador at the university level? Passing on the word and receiving it are the main goals of the campaign.
The underreporting of GBV in our universities is a big problem. The variety of college offenses and their interplay must be better recognized. Some school-based offenses that are taken for granted as 'normal' or 'harmless' involve university student leaders who offer incoming students access to education and accommodation in exchange for sexual favors, so fostering an environment conducive to more serious offenses. In South African schools, sexual violence and hate crimes are underreported. Knowing how to recognize and respond to bullying and harassment at school can therefore aid in preventing some of the widespread violence that plagues our society.
“Universities only talk about the good things about education and some things that are kept secret, like rapes. If they didn't hide the rapes and talked about them, no parent would send their child to a place where they knew girls were being raped.”
General theme for the first session: Multiple forms of violence affect many people at the same time. When a child or woman is bullied, they may be called names, slapped, or physically assaulted. A significant number of people in relationships are physically abused by their partners, and they may also be abused in other ways. financial and emotional abuse, with some people being killed as a result of it.
Confined: “For the first time since March 2020, when the South African government instituted one of the world's longest and strictest lockdowns in response to the detection of the first coronavirus cases, the devastating impact of lockdown on the already severe gender-based violence (GBV) problem has been revealed.”
Pregnancy in Adolescence: “South Africa’s Gauteng Health Department has recorded more than 23,000 teenage pregnancies between April 2020 and March 2021”. What is a missing link here? Certainly, a man. A man disappears into thin air... Nobody is talking about how a man impregnated a girl. The girl must remain at home while the father goes about his business. Parents await the return of their children as university graduates, but instead they receive a pregnancy award from reckless men.
What is the missing connection in this scenario? A man makes a woman pregnant and no one says a word. A man inexplicably disappears. The girl must remain at home while the man conducts his business.
SESSION 3: Mr. Abongile Nzelenzele- Media and Communication Specialist.
TOPIC: Team building
ACTIVITY 1:
Awareness event: “Without opening your eyes, there is a person in this room wearing a blue hat. I need to see everyone's hands pointing.”
The reason is straightforward. Do not undervalue the significance of details. You will serve as the leaders. You are going to speak about violence based on gender. There will be circumstances in which you will need to be vigilant. For instance, simply because somebody approached you does not imply that they wish to speak with you. You must inquire if they feel comfortable speaking with you, since even if they are willing to speak with you, they may not provide the same level of detail as they would with someone else. As a leader, you should attempt to identify people by something. Because you cannot determine who is significant and who is not, everyone is significant. We must always be conscious of our surroundings.
ACTIVITY 2:
“Classic communications events: The concept here is that we must communicate a message.”
There are two parties involved in the nonverbal communication of a message: the sender, who is the one telling you something, and the receiver. They are the mechanisms between the transmitter and the recipient.
The underlying message is that as a leader, you may say something to someone with the expectation that they grasp what you're saying, but their experiences, their history, their socio-economic concerns, and their finance will ultimately determine how they interpret what you said. Therefore, regardless of what you do, ensure that you fully comprehend the message's intended recipient before sending it. so that everyone receives the same message.
ACTIVITY 3:
Team-building event: “Marketing is the art of catching snakes.”
The essential message: When launching a campaign, no matter where you are as a organization, you need something that is going to be crucial. Something will keep you going. That is marketing for any company. It must be present, whether faked or not. Because we can either clone what we are doing or not. Alternatively, we can take the message much, much further than it needs to go.
General theme for the first session: We must embody the change we want to see within the organization. As a result, we must determine who needs to be told on our own. Let us not wait to form a group. You are responsible for staying informed and coming up with solutions on your own. We then have a collective responsibility as a group to.
Participants Expectations
The participants were then asked about their expectations for the workshop. At the conclusion, they divided into three groups.
● Critical discussion on gender issues
● Acquire leadership skills that will enable men to join the HeForShe
● To have a better perspective on gender so as to be able to write better for community education
● Gain an understanding on gender and sexual rights
● To learn about leadership, equal rights in property ownership between men and women
● Acquire new techniques on how to educate community on gender issues
● Police challenges
● Understand gender equality and gender differences
● To come out as a courageous man able to fight GBV
● To get tangible solutions on gender violence
● To be a better man
● To learn more about other organizations and do research
● Get more knowledge on gender- based violence to improve work
● Form a network among participants
● Never go to the society by yourself
● Each society's language must be understood.
THESE ARE THE VOICES OF CPUT MEN.
There is a pledge that was made by men back in 2018. And it is still active today, where we want to see a new man in CPUT. We want you guys to be developed today in having those settings of discussion groups to allow us as men to engage in one space. This is going to end here. We want you to use your own qualities and your own skills. So, how do you get men to be involved? How do I get students in general to be able to partake in these programs?
A VOTE OF THANKS:
Everyone, thank you for taking the time to be present and to listen to our facilitators today. From all of us as HeForShe ambassadors, today's event was a success. We've made the initial step towards being informed. And we will take further measures to be aware on the status of women in the workplace and on campus. We are extremely appreciative of this chance.
THE END AND THE WAY FORWARD
● The presence of social media, marketing, and communication is crucial, as you have said in your conclusion and in your discussion of the road forward. After today, we will have video samples that we will extract from the session and broadcast on our social media sites, including your voices, ideas, and even comments.
● We have 15 ambassadors that volunteered to participate in our trial project. The essential question is how to meet them halfway. We provide ambassadors with incentives to motivate them.
● We aim to invite the vice-chancellor to meet the 15 ambassadors at the next intervention.
● There must be something that speaks to men's development at CPUT, and on November 19, 2022, we are preparing a large 'imbizo' for men's day.
● Overall, thank you; this program is here to stay. They say it's a low-budget pilot project, but we're making sure it's here to stay.
For More Information Contact: Mr Tumiso Mfisa (Mfisat@cput.ac.za)
