An international photography-based project aimed at starting discussions around gender-based violence, was recently shown in Stellenbosch to test its feasibility within the South African context. This was according to Emily O’Ryan, founder of education and advocacy project Post to Parliament.
Normstorm, initiated by a Swedish organisation, uses creative photographs taken by Swedish learners as a tool to open important discussions and to “give young people an opportunity to express their emotions and insights around gender-based violence,” said Zelda Dalling, infrastructural council member of the Stellenbosch Municipality.
“I see young leaders coming from Paarl and Wellington and also from Stellenbosch,” said William Sezoe, vice-chairperson of the Stellenbosch University (SU) Student Representative Council (SRC). Students were exposed to different ways of thinking about gender norms through the Swedish Normstorm project. PHOTO: Jess Holing
‘Same thing, different context’
The Jönköping and Stellenbosch municipalities identified violence and gender as common areas of concern in both of their societies, said O’Ryan. “Gender-based violence, as an overarching concept, has been the mainstay topic from the onset of the partnership,” said Johru Robyn, senior manager at Stellenbosch Municipality. The inceptive agreement between the municipalities was signed in April of 2021, said Robyn.
“Gender-based violence has reached epidemic proportions in South Africa,” said Dalling.
This is echoed by Chantal Coté, international strategist and project manager from the Swedish Jönköping municipality, who said that “[they] have similar challenges, even in completely different socio-economic contexts.”
Post to Parliament, along with the Jönköping municipality and the Paarl, Wellington and Stellenbosch JTCs collaborated to bring “peace and gender norm education into the school curriculum,” said O’Ryan.
Learners from Paarl and Wellington Juniour Town Councils put their heads together to create their own collages expressing their feelings towards gender norms. PHOTO: Jess Holing
Normstorm in schools
The impact of incorporating educational and thought-provoking projects, like Normstorm, on the leadership structures in schools can’t be measured, said Thana Hancock, a teacher and facilitator of JTC. She added that introducing a project like this into every class would make children think twice about their actions.
“We want our young people, who are learning to be active citizens, to direct their active citizenship in creative ways, like Normstorm, to bring about tangible change,” said O’Ryan.
“Young leaders need to help guide their peers – it’s important that we know what our biases are,” said William Sezoe, vice-chairperson of the Student Representative Council at Stellenbosch University, who attended the Normstorm launch.
Where from here?
“For the next 3 years, we will work with this method, incorporating what we exchange with South Africa,” said Coté. She hopes to have a common exhibition of photographs by students from South Africa and Sweden in the future.
The above photographs were taken by Swedish learners to raise awareness about gender-based violence, and as an “interactive way of discussing norms and values,” said Chantal Coté, international strategist and project manager from the Jönköping municipality. The partnership between Stellenbosch and Swedish municipalities started about two years ago, said Coté. PHOTO: Jess Holing