community action programs (caps)
Empowerment for Equality
This CAP is intended to minimize gender- and culture-based violence (GBV) and harmful traditional practices (HTPs) in selected rural areas of Ethiopia. This project primarily targets girls at rural schools because this is the most affected community group in the proposed project area. To increase the impact of the project, these selected girls will mobilize their peers in schools. These can be women, men, boys, religious or community leaders and stakeholders at large in the project areas. Through peer education, discussion forums, edutainment concerts and question-and-answer contests all stakeholders will, as a result, be actively involved in the implementation of the project.
At four rural schools gender clubs will be established and five girl activists from each club will be selected to be leaders of these newly established clubs. First of all, capacity building training will be given to club leaders on gender-based violence and harmful traditional practices, leadership and club management.
Moreover, at the end of the training, the leaders of the club will mobilize their peers in their respective schools. Each girl activist will train ten fellow activists and a peer group will be formed in schools. These peer groups will have a regular meeting every week for a duration of an hour to get to know each other and to exchange ideas. Both, girls and boys, will be equally encouraged to actively participate in conversations on sex and gender inequality.The clubs will work closely with the principals of the schools and the local government officials to schedule outreach programs inside and outside the school campuses.
In addition to that, open air music and drama campaigns and discussion forums will be organized to address the local community about gender based violence and harmful traditional practices. Moreover, behavioural change and communication materials, like brochures and pamphlets, will be printed and distributed during the events.
facts
Area of Activism:
Women's Rights
Region
Africa
Country
Ethiopia
Changemakers involved
Meseret from the African Youth Summit 2009
