District marks days of activism

THE Western Cape Metro North Education District has kicked off of its 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence programme yesterday while commemorating World Aids Day .

The programme included the lighting of candles and a payer, reading and signing of pledges, and commitment to work in co-operation with law enforcement and other organisations for gender justice. Flowers were planted as a symbol of hope.

Carola Petersen, head of the Inclusive and Specialised Learner and Educator Support (Isles) programme in the district, said: “As the Isles, within our component we normally do a combination programmes between the HIV and TB, social work programme and learner-support programme which includes the Game Changer programme which runs until the end of December.

“The lighting of candles and the pledges that were read, and planting of flowers that symbolise the hope that even if we are living within the scourge of violence against women and children and of the Aids pandemic, we are still hopeful. Because of who we are and as a resilient people, we will overcome this.”

She said the district would keep the flowers to look after them and “will hopefully we will see the blooming of the flowers into a new way of consciousness of having a new South Africa”.

Education MEC Debbie Schäfer said the department was fully committed to the objectives of World Aids Day.

“The event in our Metro North Education District reflects this commitment. The aim of the day is to express solidarity with those with HIV and Aids, and to join millions of people worldwide in the fight against HIV. We also commemorate those who have died from Aids-related diseases,” she said.