- Mivuyo Qabo, 19, is cycling 1,200 kilometres from Gqeberha to Pretoria to demand action on gender-based violence and child abuse.
- Qabo has written a memorandum to hand to the president on Human Rights Day, asking for GBV education in schools.
Mivuyo Qabo, 19, set off from Gqeberha on a solo cycling journey to the Union Buildings in Pretoria. The trip covers about 1,200 kilometres and is expected to take between eight and 10 days.
Qabo is the founder of the Mivuyo Qabo Foundation. His campaign, called Cycle for Change Protect the Child, aims to raise awareness about gender-based violence (GBV), domestic violence and child abuse.
He said the hard trip is meant to show the struggle many victims face.
“I am cycling as a physical symbol of struggle and pain,” he said.
He said the ride is also meant to start conversations across the country.
“The journey is intended to serve as a symbolic call for national dialogue, community responsibility and greater awareness around these issues,” Qabo said.
During the trip he will stop in towns and cities across the Eastern Cape, Free State and Gauteng. At each stop he plans to meet community members, organisations and supporters to talk about violence against women and children.
Qabo said young people must be part of the solution.
“I think it’s very important to involve the youth in the fight against gender-based violence, and I think we should start in schools,” he said.
He said education and mentorship can help change attitudes.
“I believe mentorship is one way to help change things,” he said.
Qabo has written a memorandum to hand over at the Union Buildings on Human Rights Day. He asks the president to take stronger action against GBV and include education about it in schools.
“We are not riding to raise awareness alone,” he said. “We are riding because awareness without action is just noise. We ride to demand change.”
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has praised Qabo and the campaign.
Pictured above: Mivuyo Qabo during his Cycle for Change campaign.
Image source: Supplied
