This post is for the #wednesdaywalk challenge and the #makemesmile challenge collaboration. This collaboration initially took place once a month, but due to its popularity, 
If you want to know more about the rules, visit this week's post by
Today's post will deviate from the nature and beach scenes I normally share.
When you start reading this post, you might ask "How can this topic bring a smile to my face?" But toward the last half of this post, I want to feature a young lady who was a victim of the horrific crime which is the topic of this post.
But through unthinkable courage, she stood up and instead of being a victim, she became a survivor!
She became a heroine in our community by bringing hope and fighting to put back a smile on the faces of victims of this crime, giving them hope again, and giving them back their dignity once again. She aims to turn victims into survivors!
So, if you'll join me in reading this post, it is not just about putting a smile on my face, but an attempt to bring back a smile on faces who desperately need it.
Yes, today's post is about a walk against Gender Based Violence. It is a serious problem we are facing here in South Africa.
To emphasize what I am talking about, let's have a look at some statistics...
In this PMC article, it is said that South Africa is considered to be the rape capital of the world with 10 818 rape cases reported in the first quarter of 2022.
In this post on afrobarometer.org, the following is reported: "Releasing second-quarter crime statistics for 2023/2024, Police Minister Bheki Cele reported that South Africa recorded 10,516 rapes, 1,514 cases of attempted murder, and 14,401 assaults against female victims in July, August, and September. In the same period, 881 women were murdered (South African Government, 2023a; Felix, 2023)."
Jes Foord, a Hillcrest resident in the Upper Highway area of Durban in Kwazulu Natal (the area where we live), was a victim of such a brutal attack back in 2008.
As a young girl of about 21, Jes Foord and her father took their dogs for a walk one afternoon at one of the most beautiful and peaceful spots in the area.
They were surprised by a group of men. The men beat up her father, tied him up, and then forced him to watch while they gang-raped his daughter.
According to Jes' story on her website... Having suffered a crime that reportedly takes place in South Africa every 17 seconds, she realized that she had a choice: to let it destroy her or to become a rape survivor. She remembers thinking: “You have taken my body, but you will never take ME.”
You can read Jes' story here.
My wife got to know Jes Foord personally when Jes became a customer of my wife at the company where my wife is working. Every time my wife would see Jes, she would tell me what a wonderful person Jes is.
Jes established the Jes Foord Foundation, and now a young lady of 36, she dedicates her life to helping and supporting victims of these horrific crimes by working full-time at the foundation.
According to her website... The Jes Foord Foundation relies on donations from companies and individuals who have the urge to bring hope to hundreds of people going through the harrowing aftermath of rape. When you give of your time or money to the Jes Foord Foundation, you are not only helping us to educate people about the very real problems of rape, but you are also helping to revolutionise the way rape victims are treated, a revolution that is long overdue if they are to become rape survivors. You help them regain something priceless, their dignity and self-esteem.
This past weekend, I had the privilege of also meeting Jes Foord in person. The Jes Foord Foundation organized a WALK AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE on Sunday morning and she invited Elmarie (my wife) to join them in their walk.
They started the walk at Oxford Village, following the main road through Hillcrest, to a property they would like to buy. Their dream is to turn this property into a "new home" for the foundation, where they can provide accommodation and support for victims. It is also across the road from a medical center, giving them fast access to medical care 24/7, and it is also near to the local police station.
They plan to have all the facilities needed for victims of this crime at this property to provide for all their needs, such as counseling, moral support, legal assistance, and much more.
They have been given until the end of December 2023 to come up with R 10'000'000.00 to secure this property. If they cannot secure the deal before the end of December, the property is going back on the market for the public in general.
So, their walk this weekend served a double purpose... Taking a stand against Gender Based Violence, and also as part of their dream to hopefully take ownership of this property.
As mentioned, they started the walk at the Oxford Village.
It was a rainy morning, but many people showed up in support of the walk.
I followed along in the car, taking photos along the way.
At the back, they also had medical staff following them along the walk.
Just under halfway along the walk...
Approaching a traffic light at one of the intersections...
Regrouping and getting ready to cross the intersection.
One of the vehicles escorting the group.
With the rest of the group following (now in the area of the local police station)...
Mr. Tim Foord, Jes' father, was driving this vehicle (photo below). According to my wife, whenever you see Jes, you'll see her father somewhere close too.
Almost at their destination... The vehicles escorting the walk, leading in the front, start arriving.
The group, almost at their end destination, was in good spirits.
After the walk, Jes Foord thanked everybody for their support and gave an overview of their plans for the road ahead and their plans if they would be able to buy the property.
In the next photo, you can see my wife and Jes Foord with the mentioned property in the background.
And that's it for today, folks.
Thank you for reading my post and for joining me today on this walk for a good cause! I do appreciate it!