A programme that has been teaching pupils at three Cape Flats high schools about sexual violence will roll out to more schools now that the holidays are over, says one of its organisers.
The No Means No programme is run by the Networking HIV and Aids Community of Southern Africa (Nacosa), non-profit organisation, and Women Helping Women, an NGO.
Women Helping Women founder and director Ladovica Gordon said the programme had been running at Arcadia, Bonteheuwel and Modderdam high schools since April and would now include other schools.
There are separate classroom workshops for boys and girls, according to Ms Gordan. The training for the girls focuses on self-efficacy, empowerment, assertiveness, boundary setting, saying “no”, and physical defence skills.
The training for boys includes personal safety, positive masculinity, redefining gender roles, debunking rape myths and culture, the cycle of force, consent, and bystander intervention.
“The support and willingness of the principals and educators to have this programme run at their respective schools was quite overwhelming and very welcoming,” Ms Gordan said.
The second phase of the project – for men and women aged 20 to 24 – would start at Bonteheuwel library hall, on Monday July 24, from 9am, and would include financial literacy, mentorship sessions, job readiness, and guidance, she said.
“Unfortunately not all of our young men have a positive male role model to look up to. We are aiming with this programme to help them to unlearn wrong ways of doing certain things.”
There was a lack of services and support for youth in most communities and many were unemployed, Ms Gordan said, adding that the programme aimed to steer young people away from gangsterism, drug abuse and other social ills.
“The community can get involved by spreading the word about this programme. We are in contact with some of the churches and their leaders about getting word out to their youth members, as well as the local mosque.”
Bonteheuwel Community Police Forum chairman Graham Lindhorst said they welcomed any initiative that tackled violence and social ills.
“Social problems need to be dealt with in communities and getting youth away from crime. We need good role models within our society so that young men have adult men to look up to. Sports and activities for youth are also things that can help. Children as young as 8 years old are committing crimes already so the programme should be aimed at children from a young age.”
Adnaan Adams, head of Modderdam High School’s maths and science department, said the programme promoted empathy; communication skills; respect, for girls in particular; and healthy relationships.
More needed to be done to find innovative ways to help Bonteheuwel’s youth, who endured academic and behavioural difficulties, peer pressure and bullying, limited extracurricular opportunities, inadequate access to technology, poverty, unemployment, gangsterism, drug abuse and a lack of parent involvement, he said.