Africa-Press – Namibia. THE One Economy Foundation #BeFree joined the global commemoration of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence under the theme ‘End violence against women now’.
The foundation held an art for activism event to mark the 16 days of activism under the theme ‘AAA (awareness, accountability and action ) all year round’. The event was centred around using art for fashion, with various designers and artists showcasing their talents under the theme of the night.
Veronica Theron, a gender and child protection specialist, said the foundation mainly focuses on the youth and likes to be involved in things that young individuals do and can resonate with.
She said they chose to use art because art is a positive form of expression while violence is a negative form of communication. “Using art is really assisting young people to express their views, their understandings, and their challenges in terms of sexual and gender-based violence.”
There were three categories open to individuals between the ages of 15 and 35. Category 1 was performing arts, and category 2 visual arts, and category 3 fashion. The winner of each category walked away with N$5 000 and the overall winner N$20 000.
The participants had no restriction on how to voice their concerns and outcries on what Namibia, as a country, must do to stop violence through their art and talents displayed at the event. Deon Angelo won the fashion category and the grand prize.
Angelo said his pieces portrayed violence among women and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (or questioning), and intersex and others community and it was an honour to showcase his talent on such a huge platform. The other winners were Aina Shiimi and Ellen Nanyeni, who both won in the category for performing arts.
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