Through the lens of survival
Brilliant Manje - Itumeleng Suping | Tuesday December 9, 2025 07:58
One of the ten segments titled Survival Spotlight during the exhibition held by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Gaborone, highlighted a deeply personal poem penned by a gender-based violence survivor. The thought-provoking exhibition themed ‘Stories in pursuit of freedom from’, aligning with the ongoing 16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Southern Africa, brought together different stakeholders, poets, artists and photographer Yaseen Khan, whose photos were showcased at the event.
Khan is a documentary photographer and a filmmaker with around a decade of experience using impact storytelling to support non-profit and social justice work, especially around issues of Gender-Based Violence. His projects extend to several countries across Asia and Africa, where he focuses on intimate, authentic human moments that highlight both suffering and resilience in the face of abuse. Through PfP programme and related initiatives, he collaborated with activists, social workers, community leaders and survivors, translating their stories into powerful visual narratives that aims to spark conversations, inspire social change and advance the global fight against gender-based violence. The exhibition, which ended on December 3, forms part of the Partnerships for Prevention (PfP) Programme, supported by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Gaborone.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Simone Goertz, Head of Economic and Development Cooperation, highlighted what human nature is all about. ‘’We spent quite a lot of time looking at human nature. Humans have a tendency to view minorities and the vulnerable as less than human. Throughout history, humans have demonstrated a sickening willingness to inflict cruelty on one another and experience pleasure at another person’s distress, especially if they perceive the person deserved it,’’ pointed out Goertz. Tuduetso Mokgatle outlined ten key reframe segments guiding the southern African approach to combating GBV under the PfP framework. These include rethink, redefine, reshape, reclaim, relearn, re-imagine, regional, recognise, and resilience. She explained that the rethink segment encourages communities to challenge entrenched attitudes and prejudices around gender roles. Redefine, she added, focuses on working with traditional and religious leaders to reform harmful cultural practices, including child marriages, to ensure the safety and dignity of women and children. Other segments highlight the need to reshape social norms, reclaim safe spaces, relearn positive behaviours, and build resilience within communities most affected by violence. The poem began with a haunting recollection of vulnerability and violation. ’’I remember I had trouble keeping my eyes open. I did not scream. I did not fight. I felt as if my body was no longer mine,‘’ said the poet.
The opening lines set the tone for a testimony that confronts trauma without flinching, offering readers a raw window into the moment the survivor’s autonomy was stripped away. Not only does the poem capture the assault itself, but also the emotional aftermath- the confusion, silence, and self-blame that often follow. “It took me days to accept what had been done to me; something in me screamed, ‘it was not your fault’,' the poet said. This internal struggle, so familiar to many GBV survivors, resonated strongly within the room. This piece stood as both an artwork and a testimony- an unfiltered reminder of the human faces behind GBV statistics. Through poetry, the survivor transformed pain into power, offering hope to others while challenging society to listen, believe, and act. Meanwhile, Thapong Director, Reginald Bakwena, also expressed gratitude for hosting the exhibition. ’’I had to take my time to view the exhibition, which I see as a big moment for me. I am pleased that the German Embassy has brought photographers together to take pictures and tell stories about GBV. But do not forget the boy child while talking about GBV, education is very important, organise capacity building for these boys so that they know the dignity of a woman,’’ he explained.