Activist on mission to tame bullies

FEATHER IN CAP: WINS SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARD FOR ANTI-BULLYING CAMPAIGN

- Masoka Dube

Dieketseng Diale is on a mission to fight gender-based violence (GBV) and bullying in schools.

Diale is founder of the Lady of Peace Community Foundation (Lopeco) a nongovernmental organisation (NGO) that promotes peace and social cohesion.

Lopeco runs various programmes including sensitising and educating communities about the importance of using nonviolence when addressing disagreements.

The organisation, which was founded in 2017 in the North West, collaborates with government agencies, international and local peace-promoting groups who run national initiatives aimed at fighting gender-based violence (GBV) and bullying.

Diale, who is also a member of the Rotary International, recently won the Gauteng Social Entrepreneurship Award for her anti-bullying campaign - Orange Your World - in which she and her team teach schoolchildren about peace and how to prevent bullying.

She spoke to The Citizen about her work.

"The idea of starting the foundation was born out of a deep desire to create safe spaces for women, children, youth and vulnerable communities to thrive. I saw how GBV, poverty and inequality were breaking families and communities.

"I wanted to create an organisation that would be a catalyst for change - not just through advocacy, but by giving people the tools and platforms to lead peace, development and justice efforts in their communities," she said.

Diale's challenges include lack of funding, societal resistance to change and the emotional toll of working in spaces where violence and trauma were present.