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Stop-VAW Program in Haatso Kwabenya. Communities-Ga-East District
Stop-VAW Program in Haatso Kwabenya. Communities-Ga-East District
In January 2006, DYF started its first phase of the four-year campaign to end violence against women in the Ga-East District of the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. The campaign aimed to highlight the connections between women, violence, and human rights.12 Community Volunteers (CVs) worked with community members in Haatso Kwabenya. Communities-Ga Communities to promote women’s rights and the prevention of violence. The 12 CVs were chosen through a selection process – 6 individuals, one female and one male, from each community. These Community Volunteers (CVs) were the spokespersons in these communities and were the core implementers of all the activities. All of the CVs participated in a four-day residential workshop which was organized as a 3-day initial training of trainers workshop and a 1-day refresher through different activities, role plays, discussions, and games, concepts of domestic violence, gender, and women’s rights were introduced.
The CVs were supported in all activities by the Women’s Development Coordinator (WDC) and showed video shows on forms of violence against women. The video shows followed by a discussion of the key issues. There had been 21 video shows in each community which had been proving effective with at times over 70 people turning up for a single show in each community.The CVs have also been carrying out impromptu discussions with community members at local events, in the course of everyday life and in special sessions in their homes. Approximately about 100 impromptu discussions had been held.
Another key activity of the CVs was assisting women or children in need. With strained social services, CVs played a crucial role in helping direct, referring, accompanying or assisting women in need. They set a positive example in the community as they reached out to, instead of ostracizing women who had experienced violence. Learning materials using colorful, engaging, thought-provoking images and messages to stimulate personal thinking and public dialogue on forms of violence against women were produced and distributed through the CV’s to the beneficiary communities.
Four posters were developed, each addressing a different group in the community: children, women, men and the community at large.
Additionally, a story booklet was developed which told the different experiences of several women in the community who were experiencing different kinds of violence. The booklet went on to show how the community came together to address the issues and it gives many examples of how to use the booklet in discussions and activities. The community volunteers used the learning materials extensively and were the key distributors. In addition, 3 mural designs had been developed and were painted on 10 walls in each community. These murals told mini-stories, described relationships, posed questions and promote everyone’s right to be freedom from violence.
Finally, 450 calendars were developed and distributed to the beneficiary communities. It was a poster size calendar that challenged the viewer to make the year in question a year of change – to create non-violent relationships and families. |
