FirstRand Volunteers launches “MOVE IT” Challenge to fight gender-based violence

FirstRand Volunteers (FRV) has announced the Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) Move IT Challenge: Move with Purpose, a movement-led activation to raise awareness and show internal solidarity against gender-based violence and femicide. The day-long employee mobilisation will take place at FirstRand’s head office on 6 November 2025, bringing together more than 350 employees to walk, run, dance or cycle in support of survivor services and prevention initiatives.

The campaign, organised under the theme “Move with Purpose”, is part of FirstRand Volunteers’ wider employee-engagement and social-justice programming. Activities for the day are structured around four movement banners: Walk with Purpose, Run with Purpose, Dance with Purpose and Cycle with Purpose. The activation will include educational content boards and ten beneficiary stories to drive awareness and learning about GBVF.

Speakers and programme

The Move IT Challenge programme includes a focused hour-long segment from 10:00 – 11:00 AM under the theme “Awareness. Action. Accountability.” Confirmed speakers for the session are Kone Gugushe, Head of the FirstRand Foundation; Dr Thuli Mthwethwa from Memeza; and Koketso Rathumba from the GBVF Response Fund. The speakers will provide context on the GBV crisis, technological safety models and FirstRand Empowerment Fund strategic responses.

Strategic partners and their roles

The Move IT Challenge highlights partnerships with two implementing organisations:

• GBVF Response Fund — described in event materials as an independent, multi-sectoral fund established in 2021 to support the National Strategic Plan on GBVF. The Fund’s public summary referenced in the briefing states it has supported over 235 grassroots organisations and reached more than 950,000 individuals, with programming focused on prevention, survivor support and youth engagement.

• Memeza — a South African social-innovation initiative that designs community safety solutions such as alarm systems and panic-button platforms linked to SAPS and local responders. Event materials note Memeza’s tools are used to improve rapid response, protect vulnerable households and generate real-time crime data to inform accountability and policy. Dr Thuli Mthwethwa of Memeza is slated to speak on technology-driven safety models during the activation.

Strategic intent and FirstRand’s rationale

The Move IT Challenge is framed by FirstRand Volunteers as an employee-centred action supporting the bank group’s promise of Action with Purpose and increasing staff participation in volunteering and civic causes. FirstRand Foundation Head Kone Gugushe is quoted in the announcement describing the initiative as “more than just a wellness initiative” and characterising it as “a profound act of solidarity” intended to deepen employees’ connection to GBVF work.

Invitation to employees

FirstRand Volunteers has invited all employees to participate on 6 November 2025 in person at the bank’s head office. The event brief emphasises that movement activities — walking, running, dancing and cycling — will be used to amplify awareness, show solidarity with survivors and strengthen operational partnerships with the GBVF Response Fund and Memeza. The campaign is being promoted internally and via FirstRand Volunteers public channels using hashtags including #MoveWithPurpose, #GBVFMoveIT, #EndGBVF and #FirstRandVolunteers.