For the third year running, men have walked a few metres in women’s shoes to show support for and raise awareness around gender-based violence (GBV).
On Saturday 25 March, Bevil Lakay was joined by Mark Rossouw, Riley Antha (14) and Ayaan Petersen (12) in the annual Walk in Heels event, held at Westgate Mall.
This was the Mitchell’s Plain Lions Club event and follows several others held by other local clubs.
Rossouw is the president of the Tokai Lions Club who participated in this event to show his support for the Mitchell’s Plain club’s event.
He had already walked their own event, held in Muizenberg earlier this year.
Riley and Ayaan, both from Montrose Park were asked by one of the club members to support the event.
Riley says they borrowed the two pairs of stylish heels from his grandmother.
The boys say they came out to support the initiative because they believe it is a good cause.
When asked if they know anything about gender-based violence, Riley and Ayaan confidently say, yes.
“We heard about it at school,” says Ayaan.
“And we have personally seen it happen already in our community,” says Riley.
They both agree it is a cause they will support again.
“It is uncomfortable and my feet are sore,” says Riley. “But I will do it again.”
Lakay, regional chairperson for region E, says this initiative remains close to his heart.
“The purpose of this is for the male participants of our clubs to walk in heels and feel how uncomfortable it is. Gender-based violence is rife in our society,” he says.
The event not only raises awareness, but also raises funds for the Lions Club International Foundation that does a lot of disaster relief globally.
Participants walked 50m in heels on a red carpet rolled out at the mall. Locals could sponsor a participant with R50, or enter to do the walk themselves.
Jean Jacobs, Mitchell’s Plain Lions Club president says: “I am extremely proud of the men and boys who took part in this initiative. Walk in Heels is something very dear to my heart. There are so many women, children that are faced with gender-based violence daily, and often as women, we say men don’t take a stand. It was awesome to see the men in our lives walking in a women’s shoes to raise awareness on gender-based violence.”
Continuing this initiative for the years to come is something Jacobs hopes, as the scourge of gender violence affects everyone.
“Gender-based violence affects all of us. If not you as a woman or girl, it affects someone you know.”
- To learn more about the club and their other charity initiatives and events, visit Lions Club of Mitchells Plain on Facebook, or email mitchellsplainlionsclub@gmail.com
