Title: Rape Outcry
Location:
Global
Categories: Peace & Conflict
Human Rights
Education
Status:
In Progress
Timeline:
Ongoing
Description:
Rape Outcry is a non-profit organization based in Knysna, South Africa.
Background:
Founded by Jenna-Lee Procter:
In my matric year, the art class was given an assignment: create a stencil design that will stand out either for its humour or unconventional nature. So, amongst animated penguins, faces, crosses and some brilliantly funny statements, came the legs with the torn vagina.
As I expected, the art teacher strongly disapproved of the drawing and gave me an extra day to come up with something different. Instead of using the additional time given to me to design another picture, I went home and wrote a short, yet frank motivational piece in my sketchbook...
Needless to say, after reading it, Miss Drake permitted the printing of the stencil! I feel that, secretly, she probably supported it, but just did not want to receive any flack from the school I felt such a release through art and caused such a stir amongst students that I ended up dropping science and taking a second art subject.
With my main objective being to stir people from within, I found that the theme of rape and sexual abuse regularly cropped up in my art work. I spoke about my work often, and through this I came to hear of Dr. Jill Von Der Marwitz of the HIV/AIDS Unit at NMMU at the onset of term one in 2007. I walked into her office, gave her a copy of the stencil, and nervously, yet boldly said, "We need to stop pussy-footing around; I want to start an anti-rape campaign!"
I had the zeal, the fury, but Jill had the valuable insight and experience to guide me into going about my campaigning properly. She recommended that I do research alongside my campaign to determine it's effectiveness amongst students. I left her office mulling over her advice to dream big. With support from Dr. Shaleen Els of the Research Capacity Development department, the three of us designed the pilot campaign, No More Pussy-Footing Around, and research study evaluating its effectiveness.
Sharon, Simon and Sasha from S2 Websolutions in Knysna put together a professional, resourceful and valuable website free of charge which has connected us with many people in South Africa and abroad in dire need of support. During a brainstorming / problem solving session with Pastor James van Heerden, he appropriately suggested the name, Rape Outcry, for our organization which emphasizes the outspoken, forthright and desperate protest against sexual violence! Joanne Hugo ingeniously personified this name in creating our very effective logo, also at no cost, as well as two posters for our pilot campaign Rape is Not an Answer and Rape Ruins Lives. Devon Burriss and Dominique Deida have hosted our website for free as well as assisted us with some initial website updates.
The support received from other people did not stop there! George Atkinson from Fountain Vineyard Christian Fellowship assisted me in drafting our Constitution and so, in 2008 we were able to register with the South African Revenue Service as a non-profit organization. As part of this process, Sibusiswe Lucia Mtshake, fellow student and employee of the HIV/AIDS Unit came on board as Rape Outcrys Deputy Officer. Soon thereafter we were joined by Jai du Toit, Amy Keevy, Phemelo Motalane, Saneliswa Gantsho, Casey Pedersen, Rene Johnson, Megan van der Lingen and Roxy Polis - all fellow students from NMMU.
In 2008, we ran a little bit ahead of ourselves by forming a student-society at NMMU, namely, The Outcry Society. In February 2009 we had the opportunity of participating in NMMUs Society Day, which provided us with much exposure amongst students. The energy and time needed to maintain this society ended up not being worth our while, and so after a year, with much consultation from mentors and lengthy discussions, the society's committee decided it would be best if we close the society down. This chapter of the journey taught us some valuable lessons in team work and the importance of strategic planning.
So, in 2009, we returned our focus to the non-profit organization by integrating the society's committee into Rape Outcry's executive committee and dynamic work team. With representatives at NMMU, active members and partners working in vulnerable communities in Port Elizabeth, we are pushing our involvement to a deeper level of hope and encouragement. We have learnt that challenges and differences are nothing more but opportunities and that diversity is essential for harmony: no one sings the same note!
An Advisory Board was formed, consisting of lecturers, writers and psychologists; they include Narnia Bohler-Muller, Leo Donaldson, Hetta van Niekerk, Karen Hollely and Debbie Coetzee-Lachmann. Thank you so much for advice and input!
During the latter half of 2009 I did a semester exchange and went to Osnabrueck in Germany where we continued the Rape Outcry campaign. With help from Janika Grunau, Inka Coppenraath and Frede Vogel we ran our first Poets & Painters in Protest art exhibition in Osnabreuck. Another art exhibtion was run in Dublin, Ireland by Ingrid Kaar and Maura Ryan - wow, thank you!!
In 2010 I moved back to Knysna where I did my internship at FAMSA under the supervision of clinical psychologist, Ute Robbertze. Rape Outcry's campaign came with me as I continued to raise awareness through talks, workshops and art exhibitions. I am now counselling sexual abuse survivors (predominantly children) from our office at The Knysna Wellness Centre. Thank you to Lizette Gunther, Iliana Efstratiou, Candace Meyer and Shelley Wetter for making this possible!
With our focus changing more to counselling and running workshops for both men and women, we have made adaptations to our logo and website. Thank you to Murray Ralfe and Sarah-Jane Shellard for their help with this!
In 2012 we are aiming at running our second anti-rape awareness campaign, Do You See? and high schools in Knysna; piloting an art & narrative therapy program for sexual offenders at Knysna Correctional Services; finishing our children's book and filming a documentary all the while continuing with counselling and training!
Welcome to Dr Laurel Giddy, Phumeza Mdingi and Lauren Norval who have all agreed to join Rape Outcry's Board in Knysna - thank you so much for your support and involvement!
Rape Outcry is now registered as a non-profit organization with SARS as well as the Department of Social Development.
Objectives:
Rape Outcry’s Mission is to empower, support and raise awareness, particularly youth, that rape is unacceptable so that the attitudes and behaviours of perpetrators, potential-victims and rape survivors change to lessen the incidence of rape in our lives. We have a three-fold focus of prevention, support and rehabilitation through awareness campaigns which utilize posters, multimedia resources, psycho-educational workshops and art-therapeutic courses for men, women and children.
Needs:
We are always looking for volunteers who wish to assist us in facilitating support groups, running campaigns and workshops.
All our campaigns and causes cost obviously cost money, and as an NGO we are reliant on donations and volunteers. So please email us if you can assist in anyway.
Contact Name: Jenna-Lee Procter
Contact Email Address: info@rapeoutcry.co.za
Contact Phone Number: 0828156446
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