Women Protection, Peace and Economic Development

Project Activity Report - Women and Child Protection, Economic Development and the Promotion of Peace and Democracy Project

The implementation of ‘Women Protection, Peace and Economic Development project’ in Covalima and Ermera Municipalities are currently still ongoing. In the follow up session, the female beneficiaries continue to create business action plans to control their expenses and increase savings for their children's school fees. The female participants felt more confident to establish saving and loan groups as well as cooperative groups to save money and enlarge their businesses through various products. Women groups and individual businesswomen made excellent changes through individual and group action plans. Beneficiaries have successfully changed their financial management systems, resulting in more secure and effective business operations.

 Participants realized that the information from the training activities, particularly on Human Rights, Positive Discipline and Gender-Based Violence Prevention, empowered them to understand how their past behavior had violated their family member’s rights and inspired them to change their personal conduct. After participating in the training, the female participants from Covalima Municipality, shared the knowledge and experience they have gained through their participation in the program with other group members, young girls, families, and colleagues. Most of the women who benefitted from this program have acquired skills in peaceful negotiation and mediation, enabling them to resolve family and group conflicts without resorting to violence.

 Also, the theatre training activities on children's rights and community showcases conducted by the children at Covalima Municipality had a significant impact. Parents, community members, children and community leaders, reported that children gained more confidence. Furthermore, parents observed positive behavioral and mental changes in their children after participating in the activity.

 A mother who participated in theater showcase said: “I got several important messages from this theater- I learned about domestic violence prevention and sharing work between women and men in completing domestic chores. I also know that domestic violence is not just a problem in the family, but a public crime and everyone who knows about it is obliged to report it to the relevant parties such as the police. This theater also made me aware about the importance of preventing discrimination against people with disabilities because they also have the same rights as us and we are obliged to support them whenever they need us.  In addition, I learned more about how to protect children from malaria by ensuring that they do not to play in places where there are mosquito nests. I am very grateful for both the training and the theater showcase. I observed a meaningful change in my son’s behavior where before participating in this activity my child had always been shy to speak in front of many people. However, after participating in the theater training with Ba Futuru's team, my son began to gain confidence to speak in front of many people, and he is now more aware about his rights and obligations. For example, when he comes home after training, he starts talking about the right to play, the right to go to school, but he also says that he has to fulfill his obligation to obtain those rights such as by going to school on time, obeying school rules, playing moderately but not until late at night, not being violent with fellow playmates, and being loving towards others”.