“ADAPT and Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) have joined forces to combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV) through education.
Agisanang Domestic Abuse Prevention and Training (ADAPT), in partnership with Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) through its Student Development Support (SDS) programme, orchestrated an enlightening session on Gender-Based Violence. This initiative aimed to empower young people with crucial insights into the dynamics of abuse.
Established in 1994, ADAPT is a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) dedicated to offering counseling and support services to individuals affected by abuse in South Africa.
Their mission is to cultivate a society devoid of domestic and sexual violence against women, extending their assistance to men, young individuals, and the elderly. ADAPT advocates for active participation from both genders, fostering creative solutions toward achieving their vision of a safer community
Sidwell Sehoana, Project Manager at ADAPT, explained, “This project is made to collaborate with students in colleges. Our training consists of three programmes.”
“We focus on different types of abuse, specifically intimate partner violence. We approach this in three programmes”
“The first programme deals with recognising various forms of abuse. In the second programme we address the warning signs of abuse.”
“Many times, young people in relationships tend to overlook these signs. In the third programme, we emphasise that you don’t have to be an expert to offer assistance.”
“We encourage students to share information and support their peers who may be experiencing or in abusive relationships,” added Sehoana.
Sehoana further emphasised that the aim is to empower young people to effectively address these incidents. They need to understand how to report them and the specific measures that should be taken.
The TUT Campus Student Representative Council (CSRC), representing the university through the office of universal access, Sibongile Nonyana shared insights and reflected, ‘Having attended the GBV event, it became apparent that numerous female students lack awareness of being in abusive relationships. Sadly, many overlook warning signs.'”
“We should conduct more evaluations like this to better educate our female students about the abuse they may experience, whether within their relationships or in social settings.”
Addressing the gender disparity among attendees, Sibongile Nonyana expressed her observation that more females than males were present. “I believe women take this matter seriously because, more often than not, they are the ones subjected to abuse, while men tend to be the perpetrators.”
Nonyana believes that for men, there’s often no fear or consideration of the consequences when entering into relationships.
“However, for women, there’s a constant concern that they might be involved with someone who could potentially become an abuser. Men, on the other hand, tend to approach relationships with a sense of authority, feeling assured of their power dynamics.” She added.
Khensani Jessica Mahlekisi, “Abuse Is Not Love” Project Manager under the ADAPT umbrella, concluded by articulating that the programme’s objectives encompass raising awareness regarding the early indicators of abuse, elucidating reporting frameworks within South Africa’s civil society and governmental institutions, including tertiary education, and fostering educational initiatives to empower young people as allies.