Stories of Change

Through the Letsema initiative, G@W associates and LRS facilitators in the Vaal, sought to answer the question of “how can we create a Vaal with 0% GBV?” Vaal is a marginalised peri-urban township outside Johannesburg with high levels of gender-based violence including rape, incest, domestic abuse and teen pregnancy. The Letsema process sought to work with individuals in local, grassroots leadership roles from across a range of community groups, formal and informal, and to weave connections among them through a process of dialogue and action. Some of these processes of dialogue and action included those whose behaviour perpetrates the culture of violence. The Letsema initiative brought changes at both the personal and collective levels. It has led to greater levels of respect and positive behaviour change between boys and girls, increased self-esteem among girls, and more outward expressions of belief in gender equality. It has facilitated reconciliations between perpetrators of violence and families of victims. Bringing teachers and adults in positions of authority into the process has been key, and has facilitated changes in cultural norms reproduced through churches, schools and traditional institutions. All of the action groups and interest groups noted that the creation of safe spaces for dialogue and relationship-building (e.g. around violence, sexuality and LGBTI identities and rights) was in itself a positive outcome.