Girls road trip to spread youth activism
SIXTEEN young activists and high school pupils from South Africa and America will embark on an educational and empowering two-way road trip exchange programme in the next few months.
The programme will focus on youth activism with a view toward combating gender-based violence and HIV/Aids rates among young people of colour in both countries, as well as inspiring an increased civic engagement and political participation by girls.
The campaign is a joint partnership between the US Consulate Cape Town and Brave, a South African non-profit organisation that inspires and invests in female leaders.
The girls have been trained as reporters, filmmakers and photographers.
During the fifth female road trip the South African girls will engage with their counterparts from America and will be joined by two Tanzanians who will interview girls in townships.
The girls will acquire knowledge about the role of women and girls in the antiapartheid and civil rights movements and the current situation faced by girls in their respective countries.
They hope to encourage political participation by girls around issues of reproductive health, violence, education, and economic opportunities.
From July 18-27, the American and Tanzanian girls will engage with their counterparts in Masiphumelele, Khayelitsha and Manenberg before visiting Parliament to share their stories with MPs, according to Brave spokesperson India Baird.
After this they will travel to Citrusdal and Elandskloof to discuss the role of land and restitution in girls’ lives.
They will also visit the Thuthuzela Care Centre and Worcester court to discuss gender-based violence.
They will meet girls in Bredasdorp, and conclude with a reception at the US Consul General’s home in Cape Town.
In the first week of October, the local activists will travel from Nashville to Atlanta, Montgomery and the Delta in Mississippi in the US to learn about the civil rights movement.
They will also travel to New York City to meet Phumzile Ngcuka-Mlambo at UN Women for International Day of the Girl.