Brighten your Corner… Orange the World
Orange is one of the brightest colours on the colour spectrum. It’s meaning is both vexing and fascinating. It is vexing because it reflects anger, disturbance, pain and worry which are associated with gender based violence. Orange is also said to be fascinating as it inspires hope, optimism, passion and determination. While many colours inspire emotional reactions, none is so passionate like the response to orange. As a bold and dynamic colour, orange is used to signal danger while creating a sense of excitement at the same time. Orange uplifts, gives confidence and injects fun. It is not hidden and is symbolic for exposing, bringing to fore or speaking out against gender based violence. Orange symbolises a brighter future, free of all forms of gender based violence. It is no wonder then that it has been adopted as the colour for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
As already known, violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in our world today and is a threat to millions of girls and women online and offline. It affects women regardless of their age, background, or level of education. This violence takes many forms, including physical, sexual, or psychological violence, as well as economic abuse and exploitation.
Today’s edition of A Page Each Day shares the rape experience of Folake in support of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence. Read along…
“It happened during the Covid-19 lock down. I’d gone out in search of a fashion school to enroll in. I had this passion for fashion and had always wished for an opportunity to explore. I’m very creative. I can pick up anything around me and shape it into something beautiful. Schools were closed down as a result of the lock down and in my case, ASUU had declared an indefinite strike. So, I saw an opportunity to develop this talent. I had time.”
Folake is an undergraduate in one of the Nigerian universities. She used to be a highly enthusiastic and enterprising young lady. As a student, she combined education and skills development, always going out of her way to learn new things. During holidays, she would offer her services to teach in one of the LEA Primary Schools around her home. The school was short of teachers and Folake’s service came in handy. The pupils loved having her around.
No one deserve to die, to be hurt, to be injured, to be raped, to be abused or to be molested by you. No matter how powerful you are, how sexy you are, how rich you are, how right you are or what they do or do not do to you, and no matter how hurt or broken you are.
— De philosopher DJ Kyos
When she returned from school following the strike and the lock down, the primary school had also closed for the lock down. Her first week at home became really boring as she racked her brain to come up with an idea of something to get busy with. Then the idea dropped. “Even though there’s lock down, some businesses may still open. If I can find a tailoring shop around the house, I can enroll and start learning.”
With this determination, Folake set out in search of a place. She had no premonition that her decision would later bring her such pain and shame otherwise, she would have dismissed the idea. Her search was blessed and she found a place, a room within the premises of a law firm inside her estate. After making the necessary inquiries, she enrolled and commenced the very next day.
Just two weeks into her learning experience, the worst happened. She had enrolled along with another student from one of the universities in the middle belt by name Soonen. Soonen was on industrial training (IT) and since the organisation he was undertaking IT with had closed down, his uncle advised him to learn a skill rather than laze around the house. Both students discussed school life at their leisure hour and walked home together when they closed from the shop. Even though their homes were over 3 kilometres apart, Soonen would walk Folake to almost three houses away to her home before going back.
to be continued…
