Training leaders in Zimbabwe's Deaf Community

Building on the previous leadership strengthening initiatives, Nzeve continued investing in the capacity of 8 Deaf club leaders by equipping them to serve as Gender-Based Violence (GBV) focal persons within their communities. While the awareness sessions also included other Deaf men and women(30) to promote broader community engagement, the primary focus was on strengthening the knowledge and capacity of Deaf leaders, recognising their influential role in raising awareness, supporting survivors, and facilitating referrals within their Deaf clubs.

In partnership with the Ministry of Women Affairs and the Victim Friendly Unit (VFU), Nzeve conducted GBV awareness sessions in Mutare and Rusape. The training focused on increasing participants' understanding of what constitutes Gender-Based Violence, the different forms of GBV, its impact on survivors, the importance of timely reporting, and the support services available within their communities. Participants also gained knowledge of survivor-centred referral pathways and the roles of key service providers, enabling Deaf leaders to confidently guide community members to appropriate services when cases arise.

Strengthening the capacity of Deaf leaders to serve as GBV focal persons creates a sustainable, community-led approach to GBV prevention and response. Even after the project ends, these leaders will continue raising awareness, supporting survivors, and facilitating referrals within their communities. Their shared language and understanding of Deaf culture also enable them to effectively reach and support Deaf individuals who use home signs or have limited formal sign language skills, ensuring that all cases are reported .