The uMhlanga Women’s Association hosted a high tea at the iconic Oyster Box to promote their fight against gender based violence (GBV) and the stigma surrounding mental health.
Chairperson of the Association, Praneetha Aniruth said: “We realised how closely linked mental health is to GBV and have launched our own movement to help those suffering with mental health related issues.
She said: “The Mzansi SecuriFire app is part of our GBVACE campaign. The app is poised to combat GBV against women and men and it has been sponsored for free for a year to those that need it. Readers can download the app for free and it is available for both Apple and Android phones. There is an on-boarding process for you to register your details and passwords on the app. To get the app please go to the www.mzansisecurifire.co.za and fill in your details to get the app for free.”
The event consisted of an unveiling of two art pieces titled “The Pledge” and “The Hand” followed by various speakers and a delicious high tea.
“Dayika Naidoo is our 15-year-old mental health awareness champion who has suffered from anxiety and depression since she was 10 years old. Bronwyn Turner is a GBV survivor and motivational speaker. They both shared the story and their vision on how they intend to help others who are going through similar struggles,” said Aniruth.
She said the Association’s ability to harness the power of community spirit and give people courage to reach out for help was one of the biggest accomplishments for the day.
“We want to create an ecosystem of private, non-profit and corporates to help members of our community struggling with GBV and mental health related matters. We are hosting a Youth Day Event on 16 June at Eduvos uMhlanga to engage with young people, parents and stakeholders so that we can launch our Talk Club and board more people onto the app. While we may not have all the answers and solutions just yet, we are moving in the right direction to help those in need,” said Aniruth.
She added: “We want all stakeholders and the public involved. We also need schools to get on board and be a part of the solution. We can’t do this alone and need your help. People can donate their time, expertise or money to us. We are a registered non-profit company with a Section 18a and depend solely on donations.”
For more information, check out their website www.umhlangawa.co.za or email the Association on info@umhlangawa.co.za.
