The Women on the Move Project is a psychosocial intervention which uses sport and play activities to enable women traumatized by civil war and violence to better cope with daily challenges, increase their self-confidence and improve their future prospects. Core elements of the program are group sport and play activities that improve life skills, including team sports to develop social cohesion and trust. Through income-generating activities, women are empowered economically.
Nearly 40 years of war have left their mark on South Sudan and its people. Women are particularly affected by war through displacements and violence. Further complicating the situation are disputes over scarce resources such as land and water between the local population and returning refugees. Mental-health issues and resource challenges make it difficult for women to integrate within their community and can manifest into unhealthy behaviors such as alcohol consumption and illicit drug use.
At the heart of the project are sport and play activities. They not only help the women to relax, but are crucial in the process of enabling them to cope with the past and daily life. Football, traditional dances, role plays or skill-based games strengthen social cohesion and mutual trust. Women learn to solve conflicts and work together. Through saving activities and training on animal raising, cultivation and handcraft, women acquire the skills to generate additional income for their families.
By participating in the project, 600 women will: a) Become less afflicted by post-traumatic stress symptoms, b) Extend their social networks and access to emotional Support, c) Improve their physical well-being through regular exercise, d) Increase their belief in the ability to exert control over their life through acquired skills, e) Increase their capability to deal with daily stress, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, f) Acquire skills to contribute to their family's financial stability
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
