The annual United Nations campaign of 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children helps break the silence on abuse that many women endure daily.
The Nelson Mandela Community Youth Centre has partnered with libraries from Chatsworth and surrounding areas (District 8) to launch a campaign called “Raise Your Pen Against Women Abuse”.
With this campaign a call is being made to local writers, poets, artists, musicians and actors to lend their voices to creating awareness by submitting short stories, poetry, essays, artwork, photographs, short skits or songs to highlight the scourge of women-targeted abuse.
People of all ages are encouraged to participate in the “Raise Your Pen Against Women Abuse” campaign.
Clive Pillay from the youth centre said: “You can start now by writing stories, poetry, creating posters, comics or artworks. You can record a not more than one minute skit or song on Facebook, TikTok or WhatsApp. Participants could be victims of violence, perpetrators of abuse or just someone that wants to highlight abuse in the community. You can then submit your work to your local library. You have a choice to remain anonymous or submit your details. Selected submissions will be published and distributed via the libraries.”
This is not a competition and is an awareness campaign to get people to express themselves through different mediums in any language, writing about personal experiences or those of others.
Entries are currently open and can be dropped off at one of the following libraries by Saturday, 11 December 2021: Bayview Library, Woodhurst Library, Montford Library, Croftdene Library, Moorton Library, Malvern Library, Dasenhoek Library, St Wendolins Library, Klaarwater Library, Shallcross Library or the Nelson Mandela Community Youth Centre.
For more information contact Clive Pillay on 061-429-2574 or any of the libraries mentioned.
