One Billion Rising

One Billion Rising is a worldwide campaign against rape and abuse of women. It is the world's biggest mass action to end violence. The premise is that 1 in 3 women (that equals 1 billion) will be raped or abused in her lifetime and so the aim is to get 1 billion women to join the campaign, rising together yearly on Valentine's Day (or "V-day", the V here standing for vagina, a symbol of strength and an attempt to make the day meaningful). 

The campaign started in 2012 and we have been part of it since 2013. The website is http://www.onebillionrising.org/about/campaign/one-billion-rising/  It was envisioned by the playwright Eve Ensler (author of the Vagina Monologues).  The dance was created by American choreographer Debbie Allen and the song is titled "Break the Chain". Both were created for the One Billion Rising campaign. Our girls learned the dance from youtube videos and then taught it to their compatriots.

In addition to dancing (headed by Rofhiwa Mukhondo in Grade 12), our Grade 11 Transformation girls printed t-shirts with the One Billion Rising logo and encouraged our girls and staff to wear them today. When they meet people throughout the day, the t-shirt serves as a way to begin a conversation about abuse.  The Grade 12 Transformation Committtee ran a performance event in the evening. Girls have done artworks and prepared movement, dance, drama and singing pieces to celebrate women. We have called the event "Celebrating Wymyn" and all pieces are themed around uplifting women.

What is ONE BILLION RISING? - One Billion Rising Revolution

www.onebillionrising.org

About One Billion Rising. One Billion Rising is the biggest mass action to end violence against women in human history. The campaign, launched on Valentine’s Day ...