End #metoo stories in Swaziland by mentoring men

Thanks to your continuous support and generous gifts, Kwakha Indvodza is directly and indirectly changing the lives of women and girls in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). For many of you these contributions, in the grand scheme of things, may seem small. For us, and the individuals with whom we interact and engage, they are extremely crucial in challenging the status quo and addressing those beliefs and practices that promote sexual and physical violence against women in Eswatini.

Ms. Nomsa Mbuli, the Team Lead of Kwakha Indvodza’s GlobalGiving funded male-mentoring camps and other GBV prevention activities, shed some light on the importance of this project and other initiatives like these.

“I am convinced that these conversations with men make them less likely to abuse their partners. If I interact with 50 men per session, for example, that day I go to bed knowing there are now 50 more men who are less likely to carry out gender-based violence (GBV) in their communities. Information is power. This may seem cliché, but I have found and seen the power of being informed. So, before any type of initiative can be implemented, it is important to be informed, and to ensure that men are part of the conversation. I cannot overemphasize the importance of engaging men in these discussions. It is crucial in advancing gender justice and in ending violence against women and girls. Studies show that working with men and boys challenges their perceptions of masculinity; these men are also more likely to speak up about the pressures they face to display what is considered normal masculine behavior. These integrated approaches, and initiatives that bring men to the table, make men feel engaged rather than silenced.

As a result of the successful implementation of the first phase of this project, largely because of your selfless donations, Kwakha Indvodza is set to receive additional funding to expand and improve this project to a wider audience. Stay tuned for more details!