Here’s a lovely report from WCC associate general secretary Isabel Apawo Phiri about the conversations and solidarity that can be initiated by the simple gesture of wearing black on Thursdays:

“I am taking a course for a Certificate of Advanced Studies in modern management for non profit organizations in the Geneva School of Economics and Management at the University of Geneva. On Thursday I came to class wearing black with the Thursdays in Black badge. The majority of the group wanted to know what the campaign is all about. The following day I brought Thursdays in Black badges and book marks for distribution. On the following Wednesday one of the classmates reminded the class that on Thursday we should wear black. The photo shows those who have been inspired to be part of the Thursdays in Black campaign. I was amazed with the way the group quickly associated themselves with the campaign despite our diversity in countries of origin and faiths. The counties represented in this class are: Saudi Arabia, Afghan, Mongolia, Palestine, Italy, France, Switzerland, Australia, USA and Malawi. What we have in common is a desire to see the end of rape and any form violence”.