GBV Agency & Empowerment Training for Workplaces
Gender-based violence doesn't stay in people's personal lives. It walks into your workplace every day. This training gives your team the practical skills to recognise it early, respond safely, and support each other.
A high-impact training on gender-based violence designed for today’s workplace.
This isn't just another awareness talk.
GBV doesn't only happen out there. It happens in homes and relationships, and it walks through office doors every day. It shows up as distraction, anxiety, absenteeism and silence. The people around it often have no idea what they are seeing, or what to do.
Gender-based violence doesn't start with physical harm. It starts with control, boundary violations, fear and silence. By the time someone is in immediate danger, the warning signs have usually been present for months.
South Africa declared a national state of disaster on gender-based violence. That declaration reflects what many employers already know: this is not a rare or fringe issue. It is affecting people in your organisation right now.
This 60-minute training gives your team the practical skills to recognise those early signs, respond safely, and support a colleague without overstepping
What the training covers
What GBV actually looks like
Not just the extreme cases. The patterns that are easy to miss at home, in relationships, in public spaces, and how those same patterns can show up in a workplace context.
How control and coercion operate
The subtle ways harm escalates over time and how to read those early signs before a situation becomes dangerous.
What healthy boundaries are
What they sound like, what they look like in practice, and how to hold them in situations where the power balance isn't equal.
De-escalation in the moment
Verbal and non-verbal strategies that reduce risk when a situation is beginning to feel unsafe.
Basic self-defence principles
Practical physical techniques for getting out of an unsafe situation when other options are not available.
How to say no clearly and safely
Specific language and approaches that work in high-pressure or power-imbalanced situations, without escalating risk.
How to support someone who discloses harm
How to respond in a way that is genuinely supportive without overstepping, trying to fix things, or saying something that makes it harder for the person to seek help.
Where to find reliable support
Clear information on local and national resources, and how to guide someone else toward them without taking over.
Why this belongs in your workplace
When someone is living with harm, it doesn't stay at home when they come to work. It affects concentration, confidence and the ability to communicate or make decisions under pressure. Colleagues often notice something is wrong long before it is spoken about.
This training equips your team to recognise those situations earlier and respond more safely, without needing to be experts or counsellors. It also builds the kind of environment where someone in a difficult situation is more likely to reach out, because the people around them know how to respond.
The goal is not to turn employees into support workers. It is to close the gap between seeing something and knowing what to do with it.
HOW IT WORKS
Duration: 60-minute interactive workshop
Format: In-person or virtual, both formats are highly interactive.
Audience: All staff, all levels. Men are included. This is not a women-only session.
Available: Year-round. GBV is not seasonal. We don't only deliver this for Women's Month.
WHO THIS WORKSHOP IS FOR
This session is designed for all staff at all levels. The more people in an organisation who understand how to recognise and respond to GBV, the safer that workplace becomes.
Men are included as a matter of course, and not as an afterthought. GBV affects men too, and many men have women in their lives, partners, daughters, sisters, colleagues, who are navigating situations they don't know how to talk about. Most men who attend this training are relieved to be in the room. They want to know what to do. They want to be the person someone can turn to. This session gives them that, practically and without judgment.
The decision to deliver this training starts with leadership. If you are a CEO, HR director or People and Culture lead who wants to go beyond policy compliance and actually change what your team understands and does, this is where that starts.
This session is also frequently combined with company self-defence training as part of a broader employee safety programme.
What Clients Say
Ann gave a talk on GBV to our team this morning. What an honest and necessary conversation. Thank you Ann.
Thanks so much for your wonderful talk at Flow this morning. As mentioned, it is so important for us to put our good intentions into actions and your talk allowed us the space to do that for our staff. Our team was really engaged and grateful.
We will recommend you to our network!
Thank you for such a powerful session today, which was so emotional for many.
Frequently Asked questions
What makes this GBV training different from standard awareness sessions?
Most GBV awareness training covers statistics and policy. This session goes further into practical territory: how to recognise early warning signs, how to set and hold boundaries in real situations, how to de-escalate safely, and how to support someone who discloses harm. Your team leaves with skills they can use, not just information they'll carry out of the room.
Is this training appropriate for all staff levels?
Yes. This training is designed for everyone, from frontline staff to senior leadership. The content is relevant whether someone is experiencing harm themselves, supporting a colleague or loved one, or simply wants to understand how to create a safer environment. We adapt examples and scenarios to fit your workplace context.
Does this training place any responsibility on victims?
Absolutely not. We want to be crystal clear: abuse is never the fault of the victim. Never. This training is grounded in that principle. We focus on empowering people to recognise harm, protect themselves, and support others, without placing responsibility on those experiencing violence. Perpetrators are responsible for their actions, full stop.
How long is the training, and what format does it take?
The session runs for 60 minutes and can be delivered in-person or virtually, depending on what works best for your team. It's interactive, discussion-based, and designed to feel like a conversation rather than a lecture. We keep groups engaged without putting anyone on the spot.
Will this be uncomfortable or triggering for staff?
We handle sensitive content with care. The training is direct but not graphic. We don't use fear-based messaging or detailed accounts of violence. That said, GBV is a real issue that affects real people, and some staff will have personal experience with it. We create space for that reality without requiring anyone to disclose anything.
What if someone in the session is currently experiencing abuse?
We provide clear information on confidential support resources during and after the session. No one is required to disclose their situation. This training is education and skill-building, not counselling. We make sure people know where to go for professional help.
Can the content be customised for our industry?
Yes. Whether you are in corporate, healthcare, education, retail or another sector, we adjust examples, language and scenarios so the content feels relevant to your team's day-to-day reality.
Is this only relevant during Women's Month or the 16 Days of Activism?
No. GBV is happening to people in your organisation right now, not only in August or November. We run this training all year round. Women's Month and the 16 Days of Activism are common booking periods, but the need doesn't disappear between them.
Who should attend?
Everyone. GBV doesn't discriminate by role, gender or seniority. The more people in your organisation who understand how to recognise and respond to it, the safer your workplace becomes. Men should attend because they are the ones who can make the biggest positive difference. HR and leadership should attend. The whole team benefits.
How do we book?
Get in touch via email or WhatsApp and Ann will arrange a time that works for your team. She will also discuss any specific needs or context so the session can be tailored to fit.
We don’t need more GBV awareness posters. We need conversations that teach people what to do, when to speak, how to act, and where to turn.