The Jes Foord Foundation launched an educational cartoon aimed at telling kids what steps to take if they had been raped.
|||Durban - In keeping with the changing media, the Jes Foord Foundation (JFF) launched a 17-second educational cartoon on Tuesday aimed at telling children what steps to take once they had been raped.
As part of the 16 Days of Activisim Campaign which started on Tuesday, Jes Foord and a counsellor at the foundation, Michelle Smith, spoke to Grade 6 and 7 pupils at Durban East Primary School in Wentworth about trauma after which the short clip, sponsored by Vodacom, was shown.
“Jes has done a number of school talks but for children with TV and cellphones these days, they respond more to visual aids than to talks,” explained Smith. “Jes and I came up with the concept which has been put together and will be shown at various schools.”
The video shows exactly what steps must be taken after a rape so as not to lose vital evidence, while ensuring the safety of the victim.
Smith said the foundation was often called to do talks, particularly at disadvantaged schools, as it was often the teachers who recognised the initial signs of trauma.
“They notice behavioural changes or the child’s work is affected. They pick up there are problems,” she said.
Foord, who was gang raped in 2008, said the foundation worked closely with the Wentworth, Point, Umbilo, Berea, Montclair and Brighton Beach SAPS, treating and counselling victims of trauma.
Police stations and victim friendly facilities were improving with regards to support of rape survivors.
“We work with the victim support centres to ensure they get what they need.”
Commenting on the increased incidence of gender-based violence, Foord said it could be because more people were speaking out.
“There will be an increase in numbers (as people speak out) before a decrease.
“There are just so many boys without role models and they look up to actors and musicians who talk about sex, drugs and alcohol being cool.”
She said it was evident in everyday communication at schools where children talked about rape in an offhand way.
“You hear kids saying ‘that exam raped me’ without realising the impact of rape. It’s become just a word and we need to put the meaning back.”
The foundation is opening the Jes Foord Multi-Purpose Counselling Centre in Mariannhill in March.
“We will be working with a number of NGOs to provide different forms of counselling such as HIV, rape, teen pregnancy, drug abuse and trauma.”
The foundation, in partnership with Durban Central SAPS will continue its 16 Days of Activism work tomorrow, speaking to police officers, teachers and nursing staff about rape victim empowerment.
Daily News