26-11-2013: My Parks My City kickstarts for 16days of Activism
City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) in partnership with safety and security stakeholders, non-governmental organisations, media partners and various tiers of government including the Department of Public Enterprise will launch the My Park, My City campaign on Tuesday, 26 November 2013 at the newly revamped Diepsloot Park in the north of Joburg.
The campaign is aimed at driving public focus on gender violence by helping communities take ownership of their neighbourhoods in a fun and healthy project. My Parks My City builds towards safer, fitter and healthier communities and is set against the backdrop of unacceptable levels of violence against women and children. The projects aim to encourage women to nurture healthy lifestyles by using public parks as sites of activism.
Apart from leisure facilities, Joburg's parks are designed with well-equipped free-to-use public gyms in areas where access to traditional gyms is limited due to financial constraints.
The high profile event led by poet and gender activist, Ms Lebo Mashile and fitness guru with access to over 200 fitness trainers, Mr Ronald Abvajee, includes classes in self-defence and a motivational talk.
The programme to be hosted at various parks in the City over the 16 days will symbolically commence in Diepsloot due to the recent spate of violence and culminate with Generations actress Anga Makubalo, leading a Guinness Book of World Records attempt for the most number of people simultaneously participating in a self-defence class.
The record breaking event takes place on the lawns of Zoo Lake in Saxonwold on Saturday, 7 December from 10:00 to 12:00 and partners are urging residents to come out in their numbers to combat gender-based crimes. A target of 3000 participants is required to break the world record.
16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence' is an international campaign that is observed by approximately 1700 organizations and 130 countries globally.For the programme, click here.
Issued by:
Bulumko Nelana
Managing Director
Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo
For media enquiries contact:
Jenny Moodley
Spokesperson
Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo
T: 011 712-6615
C: 082 8030 748
E: jmoodley@jhbcityparks.com
For media RSVP's contact:
Helga Klizanie
C: 084 400 3003
E: Helga@dinokocommunications.com
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