Tag: SGI

South Saharan Social Development Organization (SSDO) Organizes a Workshop through its Sister Guardian Initiative (SGI) to Commemorate the 2022 International Women’s Day

THEME: Strengthening Local Institutions’ Capacity to Combat Gender-based Violence(GBV). 

A report on the Sister Guardian Initiative Workshop held on the 8th of March 2022 on “Strengthening Local Institutions’ Capacity to Combat Gender-Based Violence”. 

Introduction 

The Sister Guardian Initiative (SGI) is a South Saharan Social Development Organization‘s flagship project on reducing violence against women at the community level. The initiative provides the immediate support that female victims of violence require— safety, counseling, mediation, and referrals to other relevant agencies as the case may demand. The SGI is presently in 17 communities across Enugu and Anambra states. 

International Women’s Day is a global day to celebrate women’s socioeconomic, cultural, and political achievement. It is also a unique opportunity for women to rally and advocate for equal treatment and representation. Since the inception of the SGI in 2016, SSDO has organised an educational event geared towards women’s empowerment. This year was no different as a workshop was held to create more awareness on the effect of gender-based violence and rally relevant stakeholders on the need to enforce GBV laws.

The workshop featured participants drawn from 15 communities where the initiative has been executed. They include traditional rulers, President Generals, women leaders, government representatives and a representative of the Gender Unit Desk Officer of the Enugu State Police Headquarters. 

Objectives 

• Highlight the effect of gender-based violence on women and the community. 
• Educating the audience on GBV laws. 
• Developing actionable steps and strategies for better synergy between the Sister Guardian leaders and relevant stakeholders—traditional rulers and Police. 

The project lead, Blessing Uchendu, was on the ground to detail the project’s journey thus far. “Since its inception, the chapters have supported over 1300 victims with counselling, conflict mitigation, temporary shelter and referrals to law enforcement or health facilities.” 

Going forward, she also explained the plans of the project. “To achieve more with the project, we have to keep advocating for community leaders to understand the effect of GBV and partner with the Sister Guardians to resolve cases efficiently as well as capacity building.” 

“It is also important that by-laws are enforced. This would dissuade perpetrators from abusing victims. We also believe that a working synergy between the Sister Guardians and the Police will give more credence to the effort of the women leaders.” 

A documentary that captures the success of the initiative was also viewed. Helping the audience better understand the effects of gender-based violence on the victims and the community. It also showed victims sharing their stories and how the initiative helped them. It detailed the project’s successes across different communities and its plans going forward. 

Mr Larry Oguego, National Coordinator, Human Rights Volunteer Corps of Nigeria, the lead speaker of the event, presented a paper on “Preventing Sexual and Gender-based Violence: How Community Leaders and Stakeholders Can Leverage the Law to Drive Change.” He analysed the various laws that address GBV issues, the roles of community leaders and stakeholders, and how they can be the voice of advocacy.

Recommendations 

The following recommendations were proposed during the workshop to reduce GBV: 

• Schools should include Gender equality and other gender-related issues in the school curriculum. 
• Cascading the workshop to town hall meetings in various communities, the message reaches the grassroots. 

Conclusion 

In conclusion, the highlight of the conference emphasized the importance and the role of local institutions in combating gender-based violence. When laws are upheld by the community leaders and enforced by the Police, there will be a drastic reduction in GBV cases. Perpetrators will be dissuaded from continuing the atrocious acts of violence against women. 

The outcome of this conference saw a more enlightened audience know their rights, know the effect of GBV on victims and the community. It also created a linkage and opportunities for collaboration between sister guardian leaders and relevant stakeholders.   

The mother’s congress, popularly known as August Meeting, is officially recognized in Igboland as a time when Igbo women in the diaspora and different parts of the federation return to their indigenous communities. It is a time earmarked for community development. Women embark on different community projects such as healthcare outreaches and sensitization. 

Beyond community development, this meeting has provided an opportunity for these women to tackle more pressing issues that affect women such as conflict management, human development, and women’s inclusion in politics. Over the years, the August Meeting has been a viable avenue for community impact. 

In a bid to show solidarity in projecting and supporting the roles women play in family and community development, South Saharan Social Development Organization (SSDO) through her Sister Guardian Initiative (SGI) project will visit 5 communities where it is currently working to sensitize women during their August Meeting. These communities are Umuode, Ibute-Nze, Awha, Afa, and Ezi-Nze.

The first of this trip was to Umuode community. The women were sensitized on the importance of women’s rights, how to handle violence against women and children, and political inclusion. Emphasizing representation and active participation in decision-making in the home and community. 

A research carried out by the United Nations in Nigeria shows that 30 percent of women and girls aged 15 to 49 have experienced sexual abuse. Victims also have difficulty accessing healthcare as there are few referral centers around. Fear of stigma and discrimination has also made it difficult for women to report these issues. 

This is one of such reasons SSDO established the SGI. It offers a safe space where abused women can seek counseling, safety, and support. 

The Sister Guardian Initiative is a flagship aimed at reducing violence against women at the community level. It taps into existing based women community groups to identify women willing to stand in the gap (Sister Guardians) and advocate for other women facing different abuse.  

The beauty of the group is the unique setup that enables it to tackle different violence-based issues. Sister Guardian provides immediate support such as safety, referral, and mediation with husbands and families. The group also has a working relationship with the village rulers, police, and courthouses. This gives the group its potency.  

The women were also enlightened about female genital mutilation and its physiological and psychological effect. There were also facilitators from the organization on ground to train the women on leadership, advocacy, and economic empowerment.

The Project lead also used this opportunity to introduce the Sister Guardians executives to the August Meeting. This will facilitate easy access to the group. 

“The primary reason violence goes unreported is because of the stigma and discrimination the women suffer. Introducing the SGI executives to the community helps the women know the right individuals to meet,” she says.

“Another reason women do not speak about violence is that they solely depend on their abusive partners for their financial needs. They fear they will lose economic support. We understand this and that is why we introduced the Jacob’s Well Initiative to the community.”

Financial dependence on a spouse can be inhibition and a reason an abused partner would not speak up. SSDO understands this factor and has also made a provision by creating the Jacob’s Well Initiative. 

SSDO through its Jacob’s Well initiative aims at improving the quality of life for women in Enugu state by providing micro-credit facilities. The aim of the project is to empower women to gain financial independence, reduce poverty and over-dependency. 

Since the inception of the initiative, the organization has reached over 300 beneficiaries and given out loans to the tune of ₦22 million. This credit facility has made it possible for these women to grow their businesses from small scale to large scale. 

“I was young when I met my husband. He was loving and kind. We got married not long after. Then he changed.” Blessing said.

Blessing’s husband is the main provider of the family. She also supports the family with proceeds from her foodstuff business. From time to time, she joins her mother on the farm to uproot cassava and make gari.

“When we started together, he was caring. I didn’t have to pay for things,” she noted. 

He made it his responsibility to take care of her from when they met and even throughout her pregnancies. Their relationship was a sweet affair until two years ago when everything went sour. 

“He stopped providing for the family. Anytime I ask for money for upkeep, he will become angry and ask me to use my money,” she said. 

At the slightest provocation or argument, he hits her. Blessing didn’t take this lightly, as every time he hits her she will retaliate. 

“I always fight with my husband because he is always hitting me,” she said.

But being stronger, he overpowers and beats her. Many times the thought of leaving crossed her mind. She always waded it off, thinking of the shame and stigma. The income from her foodstuff business could not take care of her and her three kids. This coupled with her little education effectively knocked off the idea of moving. Blessing knew her livelihood was tied to her husband. 

Sadly, the beatings and maltreatment didn’t stop rather it became more frequent. When it became unbearable and looked like she may lose her life, she moved back to her parent’s house.

“He started beating me so much, I had to run for my life with my kids,” she said. 

Weeks after, her husband came to her parent’s house and demanded that the kids be handed over to him. She refused this request. It led to a heated argument that spiraled into something far worse. He pounced on her and beat her right in her parent’s house. Her mother on hearing the chaos rushed to the scene to mediate. But she was on the receiving end of things as he hit her with his elbow and shoved her away. All the while her three children watched in horror. 

Her mother’s eye instantly swelled and became teary. She struggled to see and had to be rushed to the hospital. She sustained a serious injury to the eye from the collision that led to a discharge, leaving her very uncomfortable.    

Her mother was taken to the hospital for treatment, but they couldn’t pay the ₦60,000 bill. All efforts to reach her husband to cover the bill were futile. The family had to borrow the funds to save her mother’s life. 

“You’d expect that after he hurt my mother, the least he should do as a sign of remorse was to foot the medical expenses. But he never showed up. I was afraid that I might lose her. Her eyes kept bringing out mucus.” she said. 

The family could barely survive, talk less of paying the medical expenses from the treatment. Blessing said that after the money was borrowed, debtors were on their necks for a refund. 

“After the eye treatment, the lenders wanted their money back. We had no way to pay. Different people spoke to him but he kept sending them away, refusing to foot the bill.” 

A friend of hers later informed her of the presence of Sister Guardian in Omor community. She reported the matter to the group, and they intervened. The case was brought before the panel of elected women leaders. They heard from both parties and mandated the man to cover the medical expenses. 

Blessing affirmed that this decision made her family feel relief from the lenders’ pressure and her husband’s maltreatment stopped. The husband also promised not to beat her anymore. The intervention also provided counseling services for Blessing seeing as she agreed to give the relationship another chance.   

“I am thrilled that the Sister Guardian was able to intervene. He doesn’t beat me anymore, he respects me more now.”

As part of South Saharan Social Development Organization’s (SSDO) commitment to the reduction of gender-based violence at the community level, it implemented the Sister Guardian Initiative in 16 communities in Enugu and Anambra. This initiative taps into existing community-based women’s groups to identify women who will stand in the gap and advocate for other women.  

Blessing Uchendu, the Gender Officer for the organization who spearheads the initiative and interacts with the Sister Guardian (SG) group sheds more light on the impact of the group.

“The beauty of the group is the unique setup that enables it to tackle different violence-based issues. The SG provides immediate support such as safety, referral, and mediation with husbands and families. The group also has a working relationship with the village rulers, police, and courthouses. This gives the group its potency.”  

“Studies from World Health Organization (WHO) show that 30 percent of women have been subjected to physical or sexual violence. The risk of anxiety and problem drinking is two times higher for abused women. That is why the SGI’s support for women is so important.” 

Gender-based violence, also known as violence against women and girls, is one of the most prevalent issues facing women yet the least visible. It affects the health, security, dignity of the victims. Victims suffer sexual and reproductive health issues such as unwanted pregnancies, traumatic disorders, and sexually transmitted infections. SSDO is one of the leading organizations in Nigeria working to improve gender equality and women empowerment. SSDO’s program offers psychosocial support, micro-credit loans, and promotes the rights of women to live an abuse-free life.  

Mrs. Uchendu also stated that one reason for prolonged gender-based violence and fear of reporting is economic dependence on the man. She also shed light on what SSDO is doing. 

“You will observe that violence is condoned because of the family’s economic dependence on the man. SSDO is providing micro-credit facilities for abused women, to empower them and make them more self-reliant.”  

Over the course of the initiative, over 300 women have benefitted from the micro-credit schemes.