#IAmNotNext was the theme of the day as the pupils of East London Science College attended the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Cry Awareness event which was held by Bumb’INGOMSO recently.
Event organiser Khanya Mankayi said the need to create have the awareness follows heartbreaking stories which have been circulating in the media, the increasing number of gender-based crimes in SA and women and children being scared to go anywhere.
The GBV Cry Awareness had a panel with stakeholders from Link FM, Faith Alive Church and Bumb’INGOMSO. Science College pupil, Siyamthanda Mbutse, thought the awareness event was an eye-opening experience.
“’I believe we all have the power to change the world and that change starts with us all,” Mbutse said.
The school’s principal Roger Matroos said: “What a wonderful job Mankayi and her mentees did in organising the event. How the lighting of the candles and blessing by the pastor symbolised peace and harmony in their communities.
“We all need to revisit our morals and values which were instilled by our parents and most importantly, we need to respect one another.”
The audience responded well and saw the initiative and impact it played in their lives.
Mankayi, a strong believer in us all having the ability to being agents of change, also believes in being a good mentor and role model for the next generations.
She (Mankayi) looks forward to on planning more similar events like these as she says we all are all affected one way or the other, and we should not live in fear, but live with purpose, hence #IamNotNext.
