The more than 300 Seventh-day Adventist congregations in the Federal District and surrounding areas held activities on Saturday, Aug. 28th to raise awareness about the fight against domestic violence. The schools maintained by the institution also participate in the actions.
The initiative, entitled Breaking the Silence, is promoted annually in eight countries in South America, including Brazil. The campaign also encourages forums, educational fairs, events, and other programs to combat violence throughout the year, but D-Day takes place on the fourth Saturday in August.
Although each year the campaign has a different emphasis, the essence is to make people aware of respect for women, children, and the elderly.
Anny Gill, who leads Adventist women across the Central Plateau, points out that several initiatives have been programmed, such as forums, parenting schools, education events against violence, among others. “Today, more than ever, we need to continue our efforts to support people suffering from violence and abuse. We choose our actions very well and plan with care so that they are really very effective”, she stresses.
The campaign also uses magazines, printed materials, lectures, sound cars, and social networks to promote the prevention of family violence. Anny emphasizes that the main objective of the project is to help victims talk about the issue and overcome it. “We understand that when the victim speaks, manifests, protests, she inhibits the aggressor. The end of the victims' silence can put an end to the abuse.” In addition, the program holds lectures at schools and professional associations, encouraging the reporting of abuse. When we identify a case, we guide and refer the victims to the appropriate professional bodies”, he details.
Life Change
Day worker Eduarda Fonsceca (fictitious name to preserve the victim's identity) saw the project in 2019. She was at a bus stop in Samambaia, Distrito Federal when she was approached by volunteers. “I was going through the worst moments of my life. My partner at the time beat me and beat my two daughters, one 4 years old and the other 6 years old. I just didn't know what else to do. I felt alone and unsupported. That's when I got the magazine. So, I talked to the volunteer and saw that I was not alone and I decided to report it”, says the woman.
After registering an occurrence, she went in search of measures in which her now ex-husband could not get close to her and the children. "It was a relief. Today I also help other women who also go through this type of situation. We cannot be silent. We need to act,” says Eduarda.
Breaking the Silence also works in streets and neighborhoods through lectures given by professionals. “We facilitate conversations with psychologists and delegates. We present testimonies from people who [have been experienced domestic violence] and who were helped”, explains Anny.
In Novo Gama, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Pedregal neighborhood promotes an annual motorcade. The program coordinator, Alvany Fonseca, points out that this year the cars were decorated with balloons and banners with words such as “Break the silence” and “Say no to violence.”
“The motorcade was about 10 kilometers long.
This article was originally published on the South American Division’s Portuguese news site