Visionary Reports

This was during a one day training that took place in Bamenda over the weekend.

Over 100 community actors have benefited from a one-day training geared at strengthening their capacities as peer educators in various Communities on a methodology towards combating Gender Based Violence (GBV).

The networking workshop organized by Centre for Human Rights and Democracy  CHRDA in Africa took place in  Nkwen  over the weekend marked by presentations and interactive sessions on Gender Based Violence, experience sharing on the new methodology known as SASA- Start; Awareness, Support; Action  and strategies for effective networking.

According to the main trainer of the day, Sally Mboumien harmful cultures which is an “opinion” continue to push for and cause Gender Based Violence within various communities and to change the narrative, participants were introduced tailoring their actions towards enhancing collaboration, mutual respect, dialogue while encouraging compliments between the male and the female sex because Gender Based Violence affects both sexes.

Sally Mboumien during her presentation

Despite the fact that a lot has been done surrounding matters of GBV which still isn’t enough, The Executive Director of CHRDA Dr Violet Fokum stated that the new methodology SASA adopted and instilled in the peer educators will be the game changer. “Actually we realized that a lot has been done around ending violence against women and girls in our communities, yet the rate of violence still persists. So we adopted this methodology from Uganda by raising voices which doesn’t blame or accuse any culture but looks at the benefit of working together to ensure the issue of violence ends in communities,” Sally  Mboumien intimated

According to one of the community actors, Rosaline Obah Chapter president of the Young African Women Congress Network, actors need to be intentional about fighting against GBV. “We need to make a conscious effort if we want to fight against GBV. Like the main trainer said, our duty will be to go out and  encourage communities make conscious efforts in the fight against GBV” Rosaline Obah said.

“We need to unlearn practices that hinder growth within our communities

 Gender is embedded in the environment. We need to start the unlearning process from the home. Create an enabling environment for both boys and girls with no gender influences. If a woman deserves a space, give it to her. We need to discourage segregation between both sexes,” Josephine Muyo one of the participants noted.

On a whole, participants were encouraged by the Executive Director of CHRDA, Dr Violet Fokum to build a support system for both men and women not just women while making efforts to protect the interest of both.

Community actors  promised to be more conscious in the fight against GBV while promising to put all learned into practice with their take home message being

“Do not live in the dictates of culture but live in what makes you comfortable.”

 By Pechuqui Laurata