A writing project has called on women from across South Africa to break the silence about painful experiences that they have risen above and let go of in the form of poems, short stories and personal essays in the Breaking the Silence: Unroped anthology.
The 2021/2022 project is a collaboration between People Opposing Women Abuse (Powa) and Joko.
Powa said writing your own story was a brave and sometimes difficult thing to do.
According to the organisation, we all have a responsibility to respect and acknowledge bravery, in ourselves and each other.
“This year, they are seeking poems, short stories and personal essays that tell of your experience of rising and letting go of past pains and hurts. That is, the process of moving on and finding one's rightful place. They are looking for entries that envision and dream of a future imagined and defined by you,” said Powa.
Powa chief social worker and manager of the project, Joan Hlako, said the women’s writing project gave women the opportunity to express their innermost thoughts and feelings, which facilitated their healing journey.
“For some, it is an opportunity to tell their story for the first time, and an important part of the healing process,” she said.
Quoting author Ellen Bass, Hlako said writing was an effective way to promote healing: “So often survivors of abuse have had their experiences denied, trivialised, or distorted. Writing is an important avenue for healing because it gives you the opportunity to define your own reality.”
Powa said each submission would be treated with confidentiality and respect, and once received would be handed to an editorial committee which would determine if it would be published in Unroped.
“Some (women) have achieved their life-long dream of becoming published writers through the project, while others have been identified to perform their poems on many platforms, including international conferences,’’ added Powa.
For details on the 2022 Breaking the Silence Anthology, visit the POWA website on www.powa.co.za and our social media platforms on Facebook: POWA, Twitter: @POWA_ZA and Instagram: @powa_za.
The deadline for submissions is March 31.
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