Africa-Press – Botswana. Actress and author Seneo Mabengano has released a illustrated storybook that confronts gender-based violence head-on, giving survivors courage, sparking dialogue, and calling on the nation to end the cycle of abuse
Break the Silence is a powerful illustrated storybook dedicated to fighting gender-based violence (GBV) written by author, actress and advocate, Seneo Mabengano.
The book sheds light on the painful realities of abuse while offering survivors a message of hope, healing and empowerment. “I wrote Break the Silence to give courage to those who feel voiceless,” Mabengano said.
“GBV continues to destroy families, futures and dreams. By sharing these stories, I want to ignite dialogue, inspire action, and remind every survivor and citizen that they have a role to play in ending this violence.”
A book with a purpose
More than just a storybook, Break the Silence is designed as a tool for change. Each copy carries helpline numbers on the back cover, ensuring immediate access to support for anyone in danger.
The author hopes the book will reach even the most rural areas of Botswana, where abuse often remains a hidden reality. “This book sends a clear message: abuse in any form is never normal,” she said.
Mabengano is urging both private and government institutions to support her mission by purchasing copies for schools across the country.
Classrooms and communities alike
Her long-term vision is for Break the Silence to be included in the national school curriculum, sparking early dialogue among children and teenagers and helping dismantle the culture of silence around GBV.
“By putting this storybook in the hands of young people, we can nurture empathy, create safe spaces, and raise a generation that refuses to normalise abuse,” she asserted.
The launch of Break the Silence marks the beginning of a nationwide campaign to educate and engage the public in addressing GBV. Mabengano has called on individuals, communities, and institutions to unite in the fight against this national crisis.
“It’s a movement”
“Break the Silence is more than words and illustrations on a page,” she said. “It’s a movement, a conversation starter, and a call for meaningful change.”
The book will be available in both English and Setswana, ensuring it raises as many voices as possible in the fight against gender-based violence.
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