**SayPro A few weeks ago, one of the graduates of a sexual violence workshop series conducted in 2015 came to tell us that she has been appointed as a police officer in Diepsloot and that she would be making change from within the system. Yesterday, I received news that the perpetrator in a criminal case that Diepsloot Youth Project has been supporting for several years received a sentence of life imprisonment. I know that this work is important. I know that Diepsloot Youth Project is making a difference. I also know that I am not the work. Oftentimes we believe that if we are passionate about what we do, then we do not get tired. I guess the purpose of this reflection piece is to remind my sisters who are also in the battle against social injustice that “caring for oneself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”

SayPro A few weeks ago, one of the graduates of a sexual violence workshop series conducted in 2015 came to tell us that she has been appointed as a police officer in Diepsloot and that she would be making change from within the system. Yesterday, I received news that the perpetrator in a criminal case that Diepsloot Youth Project has been supporting for several years received a sentence of life imprisonment. I know that this work is important. I know that Diepsloot Youth Project is making a difference.

You know when you do good work and things start to shift? It’s like the world has started to pay attention, acknowledge and make change. That’s exactly what’s happening in Diepsloot right now. A few weeks ago, one of the graduates of a sexual violence workshop series conducted in 2015 came to tell us that she has been appointed as a police officer in Diepsloot and that she will be making change from within the system. Yesterday, I received news that the perpetrator in a criminal case that Diepsloot Youth Project has been supporting for several years received a sentence of life imprisonment. I know that this work is important. I know that Diepsloot Youth Project is making a difference by empowering young people, reaching out to them, and encouraging them to take action. Together we are changing our community for the better!

SayPro- a new way of making change from within the system.

Last week, I received news that one of the graduates of a sexual violence workshop series conducted in 2015 came to tell us that she has been appointed as a police officer in Diepsloot and that she would be making change from within the system. Yesterday, I received news that the perpetrator in a criminal case that Diepsloot Youth Project has been supporting for several years received life imprisonment. I know that this work is important. I know that Diepsloot Youth Project is making a new way of making change from within the system.

Diefsloot Youth Project sees the individual as a whole, who needs support and education to change his/her ways. We believe that no crime is minuscule and that all of them need to be treated as equal. We have been working since 2015 on various cases of sexual violence and crimes against children in the area. And today, we are proud to announce that one of our graduates has been appointed as a police officer in Diepsloot!

She will be making an impact from within the system, and we applaud her courage every step of the way. It is also heartening to see some light being shed on these shameful crimes that are unfortunately still happening in our society. Let us continue working to end this violence once and for all!

SayPro A few weeks ago, one of the graduates of a sexual violence workshop series conducted in 2015 came to tell us that she has been appointed as a police officer in Diepsloot and that she would be making change from within the system. Yesterday, I received news that the perpetrator in a criminal case that Diepsloot Youth Project has been supporting for several years received a sentence of life imprisonment. I know that this work is important. I know that Diepsloot Youth Project is making a difference.

Thank you for providing the space and resources to create change!