As a means to create safe spaces to raise awareness and inspire action to reduce violence towards girls and women in South Africa, Rock Girl initiated a competition for local designers to create a public bench for this campaign. Snapp's 'ubuntu bench' was selected and two benches were produced, one being placed at Grassroot Soccer For Hope Centre in Khayelitsha and the second on the pier head at the prestigious V & A Waterfront in Cape Towns harbour.
The concept behind the bench portrays stylised figures joining hands in a circular pattern. The inspiration came from the age old children's craft of folding paper, cutting out a figure then opening it up to reveal multiple figures joined by the hand.
The focal message is one of unity and solidarity against violence towards girls and women.
The round bench expresses the notion of continuous support and the solid cast concrete figures give a sense of dependability. The outstretched arms produced from laminating solid wood are individually stained in different hues to show the diversity of the victims that are affected.
In the centre of the bench is a pot into which we foresee a community of girls and women planting a tree to signify personal growth as well as acting as a cover or shading representing the protection that the Rock Girl initiative will provide.