Lavender Hill residents had their voices heard at a Community Dialogue hosted by the National Department of Social Development at the New World Foundation on Monday 7 February.
The purpose of the dialogue was to focus on gender-based violence (GBV), youth unemployment, structural violence and gangsterism within the community.
Erica Jacobs, Director of the foundation, said the dialogue aimed to find possible solutions to the social issues residents face.
The foundation facilitates community development initiatives, including women and children’s empowerment.
“We are looking for community-driven solutions in this dialogue. No one is spared from gender-based violence, for example, not even a priest. So we have chosen different topics for the community to discuss today and tell us, for example, what they are going through and then also to come up with possible solutions.”
The participants who shared their views with People’s Post, asked for their identities to be kept secret for fear of victimisation.
A youth group, consisting of young people who matriculated in 2020 and 2021, discussed the root causes of unemployment and gangsterism in their areas.
“Some youth don’t have the support structure from their parents or family members. Some of their parents also never matriculated so they are trapped in a generational curse,” said one participant.
A teenager who matriculated last year said there were no work opportunities for the youth.
“There is a lack of schools who offer woodwork or plumbing in their curriculum. Not every person is good in maths.”
She added that unemployment and a lack of education lead to gangsterism and mental health issues.
“People don’t know where to turn to.”
Another participant said that family relationships had broken down.
“Your family don’t ask how you are feeling or how you are doing when you are maybe feeling depressed because you can’t find a job. So you go to your friends and do drugs.”
Another youth said possible solutions to unemployment included networking and volunteer programmes.
“Most companies expect you to have experience. Organisations need to team up with schools with volunteer or internship programmes to gain experience.”
When discussing the root cause of gang violence, the group agreed that the lack of father figures was part of the problem.
“The lack of father figures, abusive homes, peer pressure, violent homes, poverty and bullying are not being addressed. Some people feel they don’t have a choice and have to join a gang and others are forced through a family affiliation.
“If unemployment and gangs are not addressed, it leads to death, prison, a loss of innocent lives and a vicious generational cycle of abuse.”
A separate group of women, who discussed gender-based violence, said that the community needed to speak out more.
“Social development should be in our community more often and there must be accountability. The community should also speak out. For example, there is a school girl whose boyfriend is hitting her with a brick and banging her head against the wall but the community did nothing because they are too afraid to speak up,” said a resident.
“In another incident, a guy is controlling his girlfriend by taking her money after she gets paid.”
Another resident pointed out that women needed to know the proper procedures when making a complaint and that the government documents should not only be in English.
“An interdict should be available in all languages, not only in English. You should be able to understand. And we also need more workshops for women who are being abused.”
