Day 60/100
Prevention & rebuilding social cohesion is the primary focus of the NSPGBVF Pillar 2. The 100-Day Challenge team in Tshwane was tasked with looking at ways to effectively use evidence-informed methods for school-based interventions targeting grade 6-7 learners. The district leaders initially thought the team would focus on tackling toxic masculinity but, in the spirit of 100-Day Challenges, the team changed course based on needs identified by the learners themselves.
This team has expanded and adjusted their original plan to roll out an anti-bullying campaign at schools to include a learner-led school safety audit that has proven to be an effective measure in 3 schools in Nelson Mandela Bay. They are currently busy mapping the routes most learners use when they walk to school in the identified regions to locate the hot spots by charting the roads where they feel unsafe. Because all the relevant stakeholders are on board with this process it will make it easier to take it forward and do what needs to be done for the learners to feel safe when travelling to school.
Team leader, Freda Msindiswa Mashau from Katekani Community Project, explained that the anti-bullying workshops are sorely needed because there’s been a rise in learners bullying teachers and vice versa. There have also been incidents of learners bullying each other and even killing teachers. Participating learners will develop their own pledges not to perpetrate bullying in their schools. The Department of Education has assisted with the process by training the team who will be going to schools, and facilitating access to schools.
The only challenge at present is that exams and school holidays are around the corner which may cause some delays. Suggestions to mitigate this issue were to conduct the workshop on one of the days at term-end after exams but before schools break up. Fortunately, the Grade Eight learners, who are the target group, are under less pressure than the Grade Twelve learners. Engagements with school heads are planned so as to overcome this obstacle.
“All this work is important. And this exercise of having these challenges has helped us solidify the importance of having all hands on deck,” said Sibs Mthembu, Office of the President.
For questions or to arrange an interview with any of the team leaders, please contact Candice Ludick on [email protected] or 060 715 3607