The Big Interviews Teen tackling gender-based violence through poetry

With many SA women still ending up as victims of gender-based violence, a 16-yearold Port Elizabeth schoolgirl has taken it upon herself to raise awareness through imagery and poetry. Having taken pictures of herself showing the distress and effects of the scourge, Phumela Memani has now written a poem which will be incorporated into a short video clip she is hoping will go viral on social media.

Two years ago, Phumela experienced an incident which motivated her to stand up and call on all women to speak out about their experiences.

“I kept quiet for two full years. [I was] afraid to tell anyone about what had happened. To me, it was the best way to heal but I was actually lying to myself. I couldn’t hold it any more, so I told my parents. I felt a sudden weight off my shoulders. That’s when I noticed that speaking about your hurt is better than keeping it all in,” Phumela said.

In November, Phumela was introduced to local male model and entrepreneur Siphakamele Busakwe, also known by the stage name Blindpeace, who suggested she try modelling, which she now uses to raise awareness of genderbased violence.

“I came up with this idea of having a shoot as an awareness to stop GBV. [Busakwe] thought it an amazing idea, and so we did the shoot,” Phumela said.

The Linkside High pupil said her motivation for the campaign was to encourage other survivors to “stop wearing fake smiles and keeping all the hurt inside”.

“Some keep quiet because they are afraid to be treated a different way just because of what had happened to them.

Some are afraid because they [are] scared they will be looked at as an embarrassment to the community. I want women to feel beautiful again and I want them to know that they [are] stronger than men make them believe,” Phumela said.

As part of her awareness campaign, Phumela and Busakwe will record a short video showing images of the effects of abuse on women while incorporating a poem she has written to go along with it. According to Busakwe, the video is a way for them to bring to light the issues of the scourge.