A Community Uplifted

Far too often, people have said that Wentworth relies too heavily on the government for support and have exclaimed the residents do nothing for themselves. While the sheer number of non-profits in the Wentworth community is enough to combat those sentiments—I recently experienced an event that proved the Wentworth community is taking responsibility for themselves and their neighbors.

The event was the launch of the first Wentworth violence free zone. A violence free zone being a targeted area of the community that has mobilized and pledged to actively work toward making their community violence free. This manifested itself physically in the following ways:

-Prior to the launch the community spent two weeks beautifying. This involved what appeared to be community clean ups. In doing this, members of the community were education about the new efforts and support was rallied.

-Violence free branding. All throughout the community there were the five colors symbolizing the movement painted everything; fences, house windows, brick walls, corner stores, etc.

-Wentworth taxi services came together and pimped out their cars boasting messages of violence free and prevention in action to serve as a daily reminder.

-Members of the community signing a pledge—promising to take preventative steps to maintain a safe community

The efforts for this zone was headed by the KZN Network in conjunction with PEPFAR and USAID but it was made clear that it was the community and their actions toward prevention that made the event possible. Members of the community rallied their families, their neighbors, and community leaders the day of the launch to listen and heed advice, on how to make their community safer. A large part of the event was coordinated by Prevention in Action and Brothers for Life—organizations based in Wentworth for the upliftment of Wentworth.

During the event in the neighborhood t-shirts that proclaim “I am taking steps to prevent violence against women” were given out with arm bands that said “violence-free,” to remind everyone wearing them that their wrists aren’t intended for violence. 

As I said before, prior to this event there was an overwhelming sentiment of government and public service reliance that I was beginning to succumb to, but on the launch of the violence free zone, I saw a community uplift themselves.

A member from the national chapter of Brothers For Life who was in attendance to see the work of the Wentworth chapter gave a speech that concluded with “We will tell all of South Africa they have a lot to learn from the Wentworth community.” A message very empowering to the communities working to better themselves.