Malawi Start Awareness Support and Action (SASA), in Machinga, is urging the women and girls to speak out against gender-based violence. SASA is a faith focused project implemented by the Coalition of Women Living with HIV and Aids (COWLHA)
COWLHA visited the traditional authorities Mposa and Chamba in the district to interact with project stakeholders. The organization spoke to traditional and faith leaders, community-based organisations and the police. They also talked to the women who have been part of the project to assess its impact.
Community-level activist Jane Kila of the Mposa area hailed the SASA project for raising awareness on GBV issues, saying members of the community are aware of many forms of GBV and how and where to report the issues.
Community members discussed gender roles, gender equality, gender equity and issues of rights.
“Some people used to favour boys more than girls on education opportunities such that they could choose to educate boys rather than girls.
SASA is raising awareness to encourage woman to take up education and take precautionary measures to protect women and girls against all forms of gender-based violence.
Women Forum member Felister Laston appreciated SASA for raising awareness and bringing women to participate in communal activities. She said that this is a welcome change from the status quo which did not see women participation
“I can stand and speak out my mind during meetings in front of men and chiefs. Women can now chair community-level structures,” she added.
Sergeant Thandie Ganala of Machinga Police’s Victim Support Unit said the SASA project helped to disseminate information on GBV, including human rights violations, psychological effects and criminal aspects of GBV.
“The project raised much-needed community awareness on issues of women and girl’s empowerment ways and means of reporting GBV.
“We have received a lot of cases from Mposa and Chamba in the past five months. This is a clear indication that people realise the need to report GBV to relevant authorities,” she added.
Tamara Luhanga, COWLHA Gender and Women Rights Programmes Officer, said that they were happy with SASA’s work. The organization has seen increased reporting of GBV to authorities for appropriate actions.
She lauded the stakeholders for their efforts in the fight against GBV. The Start Awareness Support and Action project is funded by Irish Aid through Trocaire.