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Rhealyz Africa Advocacy Using Storytelling (End GBV)- Kiana’s Story Part 11 “GBV
Depression was something I couldn’t run away from. I was dumbfounded, kept on looking into space series of nightmares throughout that week, my other half left without a goodbye, and to date, no one knew I saw the cold body of my twin from another mother. I was affected and my pastor had to pray for me though I was still too shocked to cry on that faithful day I cried the loudest as I still feel the pain and loneliness deep inside me.
I wanted to do something about the guilt I felt, I wanted to stop any other person from becoming like Gloria and I wanted to stop any more Fred. Let’s just say I wanted to become an advocate against all forms of “Gender-Based Violence”. I did some research and got to know about “Rhealyz Africa @rgnconnects.com”, a non-governmental organization passionate about bringing passionate change and standing for women’s rights while advocating against “Gender-Based Violence”. I was able to have a chat with one of the administrators and I poured out my story to her. She helped me to understand that it wasn’t my fault, and she taught me about all the things I needed to know about “Gender-Based Violence” and how I could also help as an advocate to spread awareness on the solutions on how to curb this harmful practices.
Fortunately for me, Rhealyz Africa was having their usual awareness outreach and my school was chosen to partake in the awareness outreach. They met with the school management and they were given permission to hold a talk with the students, it was very enlightening. Best of all I was very happy when Rhealyz Africa said they would also be holding a talk with the Parents Teachers Association on all they needed to know and the roles they also had to play in curbing GBV and protecting their children from becoming victims of GBV.
I got to know that GBV wasn’t just about sexual assaults alone, it also included; child marriage, female genital mutilation, depriving a girl child of education because she is a ‘girl’, gender inequality, and much more. The most important thing I learned was that “we all had a role to play in curbing GBV” as Rhealyz Africa started the “men4womensright”.
“falling prey to GBV doesn’t make us useless, and it is not the end of the road for us, guess guys there is a better option” one of the Administrators spoke to us during one of their sessions with me and my school mates.
“What is the other option ma?” Helen the quietest and reserved girl asked to my amusement
“Is it suicide?” Timid Tabitha as we usually called her asked
Written by Abana Asabe for the 16days of activism
Picture Credit- Rhealyz Africa
