Ibhola Ekhatywayo Ngamantombazana workshop empowers youth to take a stand against GBV
- Masimanyane Staff Writer
- Apr 9
- 2 min read
The Ibhola Ekhatywayo Ngamantombazana (IEN) hosted a two-day gender-based violence and femicide workshop in April in King William's Town and East London, bringing together teenagers from 10 IEN teams in both cities to educate, empower, and promote healthy relationships and behaviours. The workshop aimed to prevent gender-based violence by addressing its root causes and promoting gender equality.
According to the IEN progamme coordinator, Lelethu Nguta, the workshop had four primary objectives. “The first to educate and raise awareness about GBV, the forms it can take and to discuss power dynamics and consent, and address myths and misconceptions about GBV. The second, to promote healthy relationships and behaviours; foster empathy and understanding, develop healthy communication skills, and encourage positive relationships.
Thirdly, empower teenagers to take action; provide resources and support, encourage advocacy and activism, and foster a sense of community among themselves. And lastly, address root causes of GBV and promote gender equality.”
All girls and boys part of the program, representing ten teams from King Williams Town and East London areas, attended the workshop. Nguta noted and reported a successful training session, with participants initially being shy but eventually engaging actively. “Some participants could relate to the topics discussed, while others couldn't, but overall participation was great,”Nguta said. “The training was easy to conduct, as participants were familiar with or exposed to some of the topics. Participants were eager to learn, excited, and supportive of each other.”
Nguta said the workshop highlighted the importance of empowering the youth to take a stand against GBV. “Some of our biggest takeaways included the eagerness of young people to learn and take action against GBV, the significance of coach-participant relationships and support and the need for ongoing education and awareness-raising efforts.”
Nguta says the workshop demonstrated the potential for empowering youth to drive change and prevent GBV. “By educating, empowering, and promoting healthy relationships, we can work towards creating a safer, more equitable society for all,” she added.
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