16 Days of Creative Activism

Explore Afrikala Art’s bold advocacy campaign using creativity to confront GBV and champion mental well-being.

A person writing mental health advice on a whiteboard

Artistic Advocacy for Mental Health & Gender Justice

Afrikala Art’s 16 Days of Creative Activism is a bold, art-driven digital and physical campaign that harnesses the power of creativity to confront the deep and often overlooked link between gender-based violence (GBV) and mental health. Anchored within the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (November 25 – December 10), this initiative aims to transform murals, poetry, theatre, photography, storytelling and design into tools for healing, advocacy and social transformation.

Led by our dynamic team of creatives, survivors and advocates, the campaign seeks to create safe and inclusive platforms where survivors can share their stories, communities can reflect and society can be called into action. It challenges the silences, shame and stigma that often surround GBV and mental health.

Why It Matters

Gender-based violence leaves lasting psychological scars, yet mental health support remains inadequate and inaccessible for many. Survivors often face isolation, shame and societal judgment. This initiative recognises that:

Psychological Trauma from GBV often leads to anxiety, depression, PTSD and suicidal ideation.
Stigmatization silences survivors, cutting them off from help and support networks.
Interpersonal Trust is damaged, impacting relationships, self-worth and healing journeys.
Barriers to Help - including fear, shame and lack of safe spaces, prevent many from accessing services.

By creatively addressing these realities, 16 Days of Creative Activism aims to raise awareness, shift narratives and offer emotional validation and solidarity to those affected.

Campaign Phases & Activities

Phase 1: Planning & Content Creation

Story curation from individuals with lived experience of GBV and trauma
Visual storytelling: photography, murals, digital art, video & theatre
Content strategy built around empathy, facts and mental health literacy
Grounding all messaging in survivor agency and community co-creation

Phase 2: Online & Community Campaign (Nov 25–Dec 10)

Daily storytelling posts and creative advocacy spotlights
Art-based events, exhibitions, panel discussions or performances
Community dialogues on GBV & mental health
Highlighting support networks and referral services

Impact Objectives

Raise public awareness of the mental health toll of GBV
Break cycles of shame and silence through lived experience storytelling
Engage creatives in transformative advocacy and healing
Inform GBV and mental health programs through community-rooted insights
Foster a culture of support, empathy and safe expression

The Afrikala Art team holding signs about mental health and smiling at the camera

This is more than an advocacy campaign, it’s a creative resistance movement against injustice, stigma and silence. Through 16 Days of Creative Activism, Afrikala Art envisions a world where voices are heard, survivors are honoured and communities rise to challenge GBV and support mental health.