Stellenbosch University’s Co-Create Health Hub joined forces with Aurorah Kuils River Community Action Network (CAN) to mark 16 Days of Activism with an event amplifying the voices of survivors of gender-based violence (GBV).

16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual global campaign that runs from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to 10 December (Human Rights Day). The event, which also coincided with World AIDS Day, featured survivors who shared their written stories, poems and reflections on GBV, all with the goal of taking a stand against the scourge of GBV.

The Co-Create Health Hub, based within the Division of Health System and Public Health at SU’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS), is involved in community-engaged research and collaborated on the project with Aurorah CAN, a volunteer network that responds to the needs of vulnerable people in the community.

The highlight of the event, held at the Biomedical Research Institute (BMRI) on the Tygerberg campus, was the launch of a book, titled The Horror of Trust, which features the writings of GBV survivors and inspires action against it.

Latiefah Jacobs, founder of the Aurorah CAN, compiled the book from stories that emerged from a “healing and writing” workshop she organised in her community. 

Jacobs said the workshop initiative aims at “urging participants to reclaim their story, their power, and their life, through journaling and writing”.

“The book features stories of betrayal, survival, and the courageous act of reclaiming trust,” said Jacobs, who has published about 15 compilations of community stories, all focusing on empowering people to tell their stories and to heal from their trauma.

Welcoming participants to the event, Professor René English,Head of the Division of Health Systems and Public Health, highlighted the importance of collaboration in civil society in helping people heal from GBV.

Renowned women’s rights activist Lucinda Evans addressed participants, and the programme included a youth dialogue on GBV and HIV.

Professor Lynn Hendricks from the Division of Health Systems and Public Health said the Co-Create Health Hub kicked off about a year ago with a key focus on community engagement in research and social impact. “We work nationally and internationally with other organisations and researchers involved in community-engaged research to achieve research equity. We try to engage with social issues that are important and relevant in our communities, and we promote the inclusion of community members in our research teams and our other work because we believe this is how we transform global health. One of those is GBV which has been determined by our presidency as a national disaster, with 1 in 3 women experiencing gender-based violence. “

Hendricks hailed the Hub’s collaboration with Jacobs for the 16 Days of Activism event.

“Latiefah has published four anthologies of community stories of GBV and has won multiple prizes for this work. It’s an honour to work with her as part of our team and on this event which challenges GBV in South Africa.”