By Dr Leonora Alberts Vilakazi
I am profoundly grateful and honoured to serve as a member of the Interfaith Steering Group, particularly with the vital mission of the Faith Action Collective to End GBV and We Will Speak Out (WWSOSA). Our recent two-day meeting was an exemplary demonstration of high-impact strategic planning balanced with essential communal care, validating the power of the Social Change Ecosystem Framework in action.
The meeting’s success stemmed from the diverse expertise and faith traditions converging to utilise distinct ecosystem roles.
Weaving and Vision: We effectively serve as Weavers, connecting different faith communities and stakeholders to strengthen our collective network. This collaboration facilitated shared visioning as we planned the next phase of our Interfaith GBV Prevention and Mitigation Strategy, clarifying our boldest possibilities for a society free from GBV.
Building and Responding: Our core sessions focused on developing concrete action plans, a critical function of Builders. Simultaneously, our efforts to organise information and coordinate resources demonstrates our preparedness as Frontline Responders to address immediate community crises.
Storytelling and Guidance: The sharing of information and personal insights served as powerful storytelling, which is vital for shifting harmful norms and mobilising support. This wisdom provides the ethical direction and guidance necessary to ensure our actions remain survivor-centred and rooted in justice.
The Integration of Care and Justice: What made this meeting exceptionally effective was the intentional prioritisation of caregivers and healers’ roles, proving that sustainability is central to professional activism.
Trauma-Informed Practice: By making space for healing – addressing the current and generational traumas associated with GBV – we ensured our strategy is grounded in deep empathy and resilience, not just rhetoric.
Sustainable Engagement: The moments dedicated to communal joy – the shared laughter, focused breathing, and the brief, restorative connection to the environment (like our five minutes in the sea!) – are not secondary activities; they are professional mandates of the Caregiver role.
These acts of restoration ensure that our dedicated advocates remain whole, preventing burnout and guaranteeing the long-term viability of our campaign.
Our two-day intensive meeting was a strategic success, reaffirming that the pursuit of equity, liberation, justice, and solidarity is strongest when powered by an integrated commitment to wellbeing.
We left this meeting with renewed clarity, energy, and profound gratitude for the collective spirit of this Steering Group. We are not just planning to end violence; we are actively embodying the healing and joy that a just society promises.