A four-day workshop was held in Crossroads recently to better empower volunteers who work with victims of crime.
The training, facilitated by Mosaic Training and Healing Centre was held at the Crossroads library from Wednesday October 12 to Saturday October 15 .
Among the reasons the workshop was held was to ensure that volunteers were able to properly support victims of violence and make them are aware of their legal rights nad which procedures to follow when reporting crimes.
Safe Communities co-ordinator at Mosaic, Thembani Dyule, said the organisation felt that it would be beneficial for the interested individuals and NGOs, who deal directly with victims of crime, including gender-based violence (GBV), to continuously enhance their skills through education.
“The workshop spoke to all including traditional leaders of the community, who we felt should understand different forms of GBV, gender role and psychosocial of GVB. This is to enhance and equip them with knowledge on practical understanding as well as supporting and empowering them to speak with authority when interacting with the wider community. But most importantly, to know how to deal and handle victims,” he said.
Workshop facilitator Zarina Majiet took the attendees through all forms of GBV, the causes and the contributors.
She urged the helpers to never give advice to the victims but rather to direct them to where to go for help.
She said when they are connecting with the victims it could be easy for them to say things like “why did you leave or why did you take such a long time to leave”, but urged them not to give into the temptation to say such things.
“As helpers you should know your role. GBV is very complex. We do not give advice but we explore options. Remember it takes a woman on average seven attempts before she leaves a relationship. That is 10 years,” she said.
Human rights activist and a community leader in Philippi Pam Nobumba said even though she had been through a number of workshops on the subject, she had found it very insightful.
“I have attended many worships that are dealing with GBV but knowledge is always needed. We can’t stop learning. We should at all times know how to deal with victims and with perpetrators for that matter. The topics covered were excellent,” she said.
“We have been equipped to improve on the services we provide in our spaces. This is a great benefit for me and the community. Our aim is to help the victims and this is what we have been empowered with in the two days we have been here,” she told Vukani.
