Over the last two years, my colleagues had mentioned that attending the SVRI Forum was necessary if I wanted to expand my knowledge in the field, network with people, and determine which niche I wanted to focus on. When submitting my abstract, I was unsure if I would be able to attend. However, the relationships I had forged before the Forum helped me find funding for this trip. I received support for the registration and tickets from The Global Early Adolescent Study and Gender Equity Unit, respectively; but still needed funding for my accommodation. When SVRI emailed and told me I had received a partial bursary, I was ecstatic. I realized although I came to the Forum alone as an individual, I was supported throughout the process to make this dream come true.

The Forum was 1500 participants strong. Researchers, practitioners, donors, and advocates came together for four days. Even as an extrovert, I was nervous to navigate such a large convening and interact without my family accompanying me on this trip. However, that feeling went away when I arrived in Cape Town and the Gender Violence Research and Collaboration Network (GVR-CN) organized a co-facilitator dinner for us to finally meet in person. Before the dinner, I was standing in line for check-in and a group of people just said ‘hi’ to me. It was that smiling welcome that made me feel confident to take the first step in creating new relationships by talking and introducing myself. The dinner solidified that thought when I met with my co-facilitators, and we continued our Zoom conversations as if we had always known each other.

Humans rely on relationships throughout life

From birth, human survival is tied to connection: the skin-to-skin contact promoting attachment, the nourishment provided by breast milk or other food, and the foundational relationships forged within a family. Love begins as a bond with parents, teaching us that humanity is interconnected, and this sense of connection enables us to form meaningful relationships beyond the family, helping us navigate and define who we become. Every human needs a network that loves and supports us to flourish. 

After the first hesitation at the Forum, I never wondered again whether I belonged… I knew I was equally valued and respected as anyone else. This feeling and openness allowed me to meet new and old colleagues through random introductions while charging laptops, dancing to Jerusalema, and receiving spontaneous WhatsApp invitations to meals. It was the organized and informal interactions that generated new ideas. 

 I left the Forum with a full heart thanks to the openness, love, respect, and support I received before and during the event. It validated to me why relationships are important. The three tips I would offer forum newcomers are to be open, find your champions, and never doubt yourself. You are seen, you are needed, and you matter. 

Addressing violence, as a commitment in our lives, is a path we cannot (and should not) walk alone. All human action is collective action and making this collective positive lies in how we forge our relationships. I, for one, leave this event with a renovated commitment to nurturing those around me, so that when we flourish, we flourish together.  

This blog post was written by Astha Ramaiya, an Assistant Scientist at the Department of Health Behavior and Society, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University. Astha is interested in understanding the role of gender as a power system on violence outcomes across the life course. You can connect with her on LinkedIn and X.