As part of our Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) prevention program, outreach sensitization activities are carried out by the SGBV staff to create more awareness and provide education among the general public and students. Community outreach coordinator, Bosco Mubangizi, visited Boona School of Journalism in Rukungiri municipality, as they were ending their semester. Bosco had a great time speaking with student journalists and staff members of Boona FM radio station. Boona School of Journalism expressed its appreciation for our efforts to make sure communities are free from SGBV. They pledged to work with Nyaka in their respective communities and places of work.
We deeply appreciate your support to ensure Nyaka and our neighboring communities are receiving information to prevent SGBV and resources to help survivors when they are victims of SGBV.
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In 2021, Nyaka’s Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) Program supported 143 survivors of sexual and gender based violence, by providing medical care, counselling and legal advocacy through our SGBV Response work. The Program supports all ages, sexes and backgrounds, but the majority of survivors accessing our service are children. Nyaka has been instrumental in 166 prosecutions of perpetrators since the service began in 2015.
PEPFAR has partnered with Nyaka since 2019, enabling us, through a series of small community grants, to support more survivors. This has been especially important in recent years as the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns have increased incidences of SGBV in Uganda and globally. PEPFAR has also enabled the development of the Prevention aspect of our SGBV work. Since 2019 we have trained 840 grandmothers (including 240 grandmothers living with HIV), 60 grandfathers, 60 boda boda (motorcycle taxi) drivers and supported collaboration amongst professionals including NGO staff, police, social workers and teachers. Those who have participated in Nyaka SGBV training share their knowledge with their Grandmother groups or colleagues and act as Champions against violence in the community. We have also facilitated radio talk shows and community events to increase knowledge about SGBV and enable communities to report cases to our healing centers and outreach staff. We are very grateful to PEPFAR for their support!
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On Monday, January 10th, 2022 Nyaka welcomed children back to school! In order to keep our community safe, teachers and support staff have been vaccinated. Daily, staff members are doing all they can to follow the strict Ugandan Ministry of Health’s (MoH) operating guidelines including cleaning, maintenance, the provision of hand washing stations, masks for all students, plans for COVID-19 safe classrooms, etc. Medical personnel from the local Kambuga hospital, have visited Nyaka to address staff and students at the Nyaka Vocational Secondary School (NVSS) to provide additional guidance on how to stay safe.
Students are being tested regularly. Any student who tests positive is treated and quarantined to protect themselves and the rest of the community. We are grateful that at this time all infected students are recovering quickly. Students who are of age are encouraged to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Nyaka has a new coffee table book 'For Our Children’s Sake' available now. To learn more about how to get your copy click HERE!
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The Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) team continues to fight alongside the community to reduce and end SGBV in and around the Nyaka community. Grandmother groups are frequently being taught how protect their grandchildren, especially girls, who are the most vulnerable to sexual assault and particularly at this time while schools are closed Grandmothers are taught the dangers of early marriages, pre-marital sex, teenage pregnancies, and to recognize signs of domestic violence.
In addition to grandmothers, we are also focused on training grandfathers. We are teaching them about SGBV prevention, equal rights as well as gender and power, with the aim of grandfathers becoming community champions at grassroots level. These men will act as advocates against violence towards women and children in our communities.
We also talk to grandmothers and grandfathers about how men and women respecting each other can spread the SGBV message, across the whole community, that “Enough is Enough”.
Between July and September over 3,500 community members were able to receive education on Gender Based/sexual violence by Nyaka’s SGBV team and external trainers. Since 2015, we’ve educated an estimated 418,977 community members about SGBV.
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Like many countries in the world, Uganda experienced a very strict lockdown in the spring of 2020, which helped to reduce the spread of the pandemic (although at considerable social and economic cost, especially for those already living in poverty).
On June 6th, 2021, following a substantial rise in COVID-19 cases, the President announced a second lockdown. Restrictions were further tightened on June 19thfor a further 42 days. At present all Ugandan schools are closed, there is a strict curfew in place and only essential workers with permits are allowed to move.
In these challenging conditions, Nyaka continues to work to support students, grandmothers and Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) survivors, whilst taking all possible precautions to protect our community and follow government directives.
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From everyone at Nyaka in Uganda, we thank you for your continued support!
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Mental health is a critical component for any survivor of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV). Counseling programs play a crucial role in any survivor's healing process. Our team has done an amazing job introducing different ways for survivors to receive counseling including home based counseling, school based counseling, counseling at Healing Centers, group therapy, and even phone therapy.
Offering multiple ways for survivors and their families to access counseling services, allows us to meet their needs and to ensure they’re getting what they need to move them forward through recovery.
Sometimes after a girl or young woman is assaulted, they discover they’re having a child as a result of their assault. Group therapy often allows girls and young women facing the same trauma to come together and help each other through the healing process. Unfortunately, these young mothers often face challenges providing for their children
Recently, after a group therapy session at the Kihihi Healing Center, all the young mothers went home with resources for their babies. They all left therapy with smiles on their faces because their babies each received clothes, a wash basin, nappies, baby powder, blankets, bed sheets, a mattress, baby bathing soaps, baby carriers, and more.
Thank you!
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