As a continuation of the interviews held in Washington, one of the stories that stayed close to my heart is that of Samantha Grant. A sexual assault victim, who not only walks as a survivor, but is an unsung heroine in her community. This young lady suffered assault on a night out and today stands as a voice that needs to be heard. She has taken her experience and not let it cripple her, but rather give her hope to speak up for those who have been through abuse and suffered at the hands of an abuser.
Although, I she got through the interview without crying, one could see the torment with which she tells the story. Bravery is but one of the things one can characterize her with.
Samantha Grant and her friends went out one evening and were ambushed by three men who robbed them. They insisted that she and her friends strip themselves and give all they had. The group of friends complied and did as they were told. Only one of the men pointed a gun at Samantha and insisted she get completely naked. This was to be done while he watched and simultaneously called her unpleasant names. He then asked that she start to pleasure herself as he watched, else he would rape her. The man asked that she lay down and masturbate and ensure that it was believable else he would shoot her. This was all happening with her friends watching and the other two men who were robbing her friends. After they had taken all their possessions, they told them to jump into a nearby lake and not come up for air till the men had vacated. The group of friends complied and did as they were told for fear of their lives. They then had to find their way home naked, and traumatized.
In the interview, watching Samantha reiterate the story of the violence she encountered is a bitter sweet feeling. One is filled with such remorse and grief for her experience that it tugs at your heart, makes one hate that a human can do such disgraceful and despicable things to another human being. On the other hand, one cannot help but feel a certain level of triumph. That although this man stripped her of her innocence, he didn't steal her soul. Her ability to stand up for herself and speak of her experience in the hope that she can touch a life out there and restore hope. Her being a symbol of hope and a beacon of ability to surpass such a horrendous episode in her life.
The one thing I absolutely despise about journalism is that sometimes, the stories of people are used to sell newspapers and magazines. That people are paraded as a selling point and we loose grasp of what media is to do. That we are to create awareness, and not utilize the grief of another as a selling point. In the time I was interviewing Samantha, I saw what her story can do for people. How she can be a symbol of hope and simultaneously I saw how her story can easily be manipulated. It made me feel a certain level of responsibility toward her. To ensure that as we take her story back to Africa, that she be seen as more than a victim of abuse, but rather a heroine. A woman who stands tall in her society and speaks of the trauma she endured. Some would plead that objectivity is key in reporting, however I think humanity surpassed any level of objectivity required in reporting.
This woman was robbed of her innocence in an ordeal that did not last more than 20 minutes, but the scars will live with her for eternity. She will have to wake up everyday and remind herself that she is not defined by what happened to her. She made a decision to speak up against abuse and advocate for the eradication of Gender Based Violence. That is the only story there is to tell, because all too often we want to study the details surrounding how the attack happen. Some will ague why were they out at night, but than the argument becomes centered around right to self and body. No human should ever lay their hands on another in violence, regardless of circumstance. There is no justified violence.
If we are to advocate for the eradication of violence, we need to create awareness. This is to ensure that if ever you find yourself in a situation that drives you to want to react violently, that you think and not act impulsively. We too need to create a society that is open and supportive of victims. That survivors not feel ashamed to speak up about the violence they endured and in turn we create and army of advocates. People who have endured violence and become a beacon of light for those living in silence,
When we speak of the eradication of violence, some may say it is unrealistic, I say anything that you lay your mind on is possible. It simply takes the reconditioning of minds and ensuring that everyone join the fight against violence. All the pun in the world intended.
This blog is dedicated to Samantha Grant, my personal heroine.
To Read more on Samantha Grant;
Interview with Samantha Grant, a
survivor of sexual assault on an evening out with friends. Besides having
recently graduated, she now acts as an advocate against sexual assault, by
sharing her story on social and public speaking platforms. Having survived
sexual assault she can speak from personal experience and thus be relatable to
those who are survivors struggling to move past the encounter. She acts as
inspiration and is not afraid to speak of her experience. Although still
wounding and fragile information to relay to strangers, her motive is to not be
crippled by her experience and remain victorious despite what happened to her.
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Key Lessons for
Namibia
Create a culture where victims can share
their stories and inspire survivors. This is to ensure that victim shaming is
combated and that survivors be looked at as heroes. A survivors programme would
be beneficial to victims, who can utilize it as a healing process, whilst
simultaneously inspiring women who have undergone similar situation to grow past
what they went through. To have someone come forth who has gone through what
you have and ca stand tall and encourage is much more effective and personal.
Contact Details:
Location: 1134 Penn St. NE, 20002
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