Protect Girls and Prevent Gender Based Violence

Brighter Communities Worldwide planned trainings and follow up meetings are a crucial step toward the commitment  of empowering our adolescents and young people while safeguarding them from inequalities, gender based violence, HIV, STDs and teenage pregnancy. Sexual and gender base violence is on the rise in remote areas where information is low due to lack of government services and support. Brighter Communities Worldwide help sensitise communities to gain knowledge and skills that lead to change from within the community. Over 25 community volunteers was trained in July to work with their local community to promote impactful sustainable change as the lasting solution. This refers to any harmful act that is perpetrated against a persons will, gender norms and un-equal power relationships.

Sharon, an Alternative Rite of Passage (ARP) facilitator from Kaitui village, is an active trainer for girls ARP courses and doing follow up to ensure no discrimination and any form of violence is done to girls and women. Sharon believes that the 5 day ARP trainings shape a healthy today and a bright future for the girls and their families, community and any group involved in sensitisation meetings. Sharon is a strong advocate for every girl in the village to attend trainings and have the same opportunities. In the village some girls were missing schools because of lack of sanitary towels, fear of violence, harassment and discrimination.

Follow up meetings mobilised by Sharon for girls at Kaitui village, generated positive responses around changes in family and community since completing the ARP training. Girls talked about inspiring topics  which have helped them achieve dreams in career goals and initiated empowerment.

Sharon says, “Parents around the community have supported further training once I call the meeting and every girl tends not to miss hearing about further learning of different skills, safe  ways to report abuse and working with families to keep girls in school. We trained them on safeguarding  and how to seek help when ever needed”. 

The success of protecting girls against GBV is also aided by involving boy’s and men at community follow ups, advocating against any form of violence and treating everyone with the highest respect. Success is also seen in higher performance of girls at school, pursuing their dreams and completing their education.

In the team of facilitators, Sharon says preventing gender based violence is everyone’s responsibility. When communities protect girls, promote equality, and stand together against violence, they create a future where every child can grow, learn and achieve success without fear. “I own a kiosk as my income generating project and use this to support others with small scale farming. Together we can end gender based violence and promote gender Equity!”