- UGANDA MEDIA WOMEN's ASSOCIATION & MAMA FM -

Gender Education Programme on Prevention of Domestic Violence, Wakiso T/C, Wakiso and Mulagi Sub County, Kyankwanzi District

Supported by International Solidarity Foundation (ISF)-Finland

2011 Activities

Refresher Training for Community Activists

UMWA has this year conducted refresher trainings for  the 120  Community Activists in Mulagi S/C, Kyankwanzi District and Wakiso T/C, Wakiso District. The refresher training equipped the Activists with skills in the use of community drama in domestic violence prevention, effective communication skills using the media, team building among others. The Activists were also equipped with skills to understand how HIV and AIDs reinforces domestic violence. They were also trained in understanding police procedures on domestic violence cases. The Activists continue to realize that domestic violence is a violation of human rights. One Out of School Peer Educator has this to say; after the training on domestic violence, i followed up my father who had abandoned us, to live with the second wife. I asked him why we were paying for their misunderstandings with mother to drop out of school. He was surprised by my courage and demanded to know where I had got such knowledge! I was happy to inform him about UMWA’s training on human rights, which made me to realize my right to education. He has now resumed his duty to provide us with food and other basic needs.

Radio Advocacy Programs Domestic violence

UMWA produces and airs advocacy programs on domestic violence on 101.7 Mama FM. The programs create a nationwide discussion on domestic violence issues, including human rights, gender and the link between HIV and AIDS and domestic violence. Through the Outside broadcasts, 101.7 Mama FM reaches out to the grassroots communities to offer them a platform to express themselves on matters affecting them. Taking the radio to the grassroots communities aims at demystifying the radio and giving communities a unique opportunity to talk on radio rarely given by the mainstream media. A male Out of School Peer Educator in Wakiso once said; thank you Mama FM for making my dream come true. I had never thought that i would ever make it to any radio studio. Can you imagine, i have spoken right from my home village! Another female Activist could not hide her joy, when hosted live on Mama FM. She goes on to say … i feel like a Member of Parliament, because everyone is listening to me right now. Who ever thought that I could make it this far at my age? Thank you Mama FM!

Milestones

Spontaneous change among the target communities

Although it is an attitude change intervention, getting immediate results would be near to impossible. However, UMWA has been amazed with the impact of the educative approach, which has enabled people to realize how they have been enslaved by an old practice of oppression. By participating in the gender relations sessions, the beneficiaries have realized that the power to change their practices lies in their hands. Mr. Kaweesa of Mulagi S/C, Kyankwanzi district had this to say. I had separated with my wife for 10 years because I used to assert my masculine position in the home at the expense of her feelings. Imagine it has taken me 10 years to see the light. This training has been my savior. He said this amidst applause from fellow Activists, with a gift of soda to his wife who also participated in the same workshop.

A happy Mr. Kaweesa and wife reunited after 10 years

Activists regarded as reference points

Because they are based in their communities, Community Activists (18 years and over) and Out of School Peer Educators (14 to 18 years) are regarded as points of reference for handling domestic violence cases. This has come with the trust and respect community members have built in them. They are always available for them and handle cases at no cost. They can also easily identify other service centers such as the police or health centers for further support. The police also refer cases to them.UMWA believes that empowering communities to implement the project is a strength because communities understand their own problems better and know the most appropriate solutions for them.

UMWA has trough its vast experience realized that leaders are a gate pass to the community. That in mind leaders are active participants in our domestic violence programme. They have become good change agents, as they are carrying on with domestic violence prevention activism. An exemplary case is of Mr. Lugayizi Muhammed, a Local Council 1 chairman, Konna village, Wakiso T/C. He welcomed UMWA into his community and offered his community members to participate in the design of this project.

Men have become change agents

Targeting men is crucial for attitude change interventions as well as other programmes. When they are fully sensitized to understand the socialization processes and its impact on the gender relations between men and women, girls and boys; men can become good advocates for change. Seruwo Alex in Mulagi S/C said during a gender session that; he did not realize that his wife was having too much work. They would always leave the garden together, with her carrying the hoe, firewood, food, water and the child on the back; with him majestically riding his bicycle. He realized that sharing the domestic work with his wife would give her better health on top of a happier life.

Support Needed

UMWA invites like-minded individuals and organizations, local and international to support her programmes. More districts/sub counties are demanding for the domestic violence prevention programme, but the limited funds cannot make this possible.

The Out of School Peer Educators (14-18years) whose dreams have been frustrated by dropping out of school need support in form of livelihood for sustenance. They also desire to attain education like other children. One question made by a a male Peer Educator in Wakiso keeps coming up.  Our dear Project coordinator, of course we know now that it’s due to domestic violence that most of us are out of school. Please let us know how our lives would become in the future if we are out of school?  Let us know as well how this sensitization work of domestic violence prevention will yield direct benefits?What happens to our dreams of becoming doctors, teachers, radio producers/presenters?

Some of the male Out of School peer Educators of Wakiso T/C having a discussion

Uganda Media Women’s Association (UMWA), in partnership with International Solidarity Foundation (ISF), is implementing a 3-year project (2009-2011) on ‘Prevention of domestic violence in Kiboga and Wakiso district’. The goal of the project is communities in Wakiso and Kiboga Districts disapprove domestic violence by 2011.

The purpose of the project is increased knowledge about domestic violence among men, women, boys, girls and leaders and policy makers (local council leaders, religious, village elders, parish chiefs, Buganda government leaders, family heads and witch doctors) of communities in Wakiso Town Council and Mulagi Sub County has led to change of attitudes against domestic violence by 2011.

How it started

UMWA through its nation wide development campaigns has noted that despite the significant progress registered in Uganda, violence against women and children continues to undermine family stability, female productivity and national development.

UMWA’s recent studies conducted in 2009, under the Gender Education programme on prevention of domestic violence in Wakiso town council and Kiboga districts; together with baseline studies conducted in 2007 and 2005 under the Get Smart Rural Women’s project implemented in seven districts in Uganda respectively, have revealed similar findings. These studies together with other comparative studies on domestic violence gave birth to this project.

UMWA initiated this project idea because it’s in conformity with its vision and mission. Kiboga and Wakiso were identified as the project areas significantly due to, the low development opportunities and highest rate of domestic violence prevalence respectively. The development needs were identified by the people of Kiboga and Wakiso.

How it works

The major strategy used in this project is increasing knowledge on prevention of domestic violence among beneficiaries and defined stakeholders; which is aimed at promoting awareness in the target sub counties.

Community activists / volunteers

The project, is implemented in a participatory manner, working through the support of locally elected Community Activists (community volunteers), and out of school peer educators, to raise awareness on domestic violence among men and women of Wakiso Town Council and Mulagi Sub-County as well as amongst out of school children, between 6 and 18 years to enable them change attitudes, ideas and beliefs that perpetuate domestic violence both at household and community level.

Domestic Violence Advocacy Programs on 101.7 Mama FM

UMWA also runs radio programmes on Mama FM 101.7 on domestic violence prevention and advocacy and produce a newspaper, The Other Voice (TOV). UMWA will also work hand in hand with the beneficiaries to develop community drama, music, dance groups, a means, which easily appeals to the rural communities. The project will also develop, produce and disseminate information and education materials on domestic violence, gender and human rights.

Project beneficiaries

The programme is targeting adult men and women above 18 years (those including male and female youth) and out of school children, between 6 and 18 years. Others include different stakeholders at district and sub-county level, policy makers, local leaders (local council, religious, cultural, political,) and professional staff (police, health workers, community development and welfare officers, and teachers,) to solicit for their support for the project.

Achievements so far

UMWA has successfully sensitized over 200 district and sub county leaders (local council, religious, cultural, political,) and professional staff (police, health workers, community development and welfare officers, teachers,) about the project. All these stakeholders have pledged their support for the project.

Successfully established and disseminated baseline information necessary for the project to the different stakeholders at district and sub-county level to inform policy makers (local council leaders, religious, village elders, parish chiefs, Buganda government leaders, family heads and witch doctors), in Wakiso and Kiboga districts.

Advocacy programmes are ongoing on Mama FM 101.7 air waves as well as live communication programs conducted directly from the grassroots within the project area and other parts of Uganda, through the use of an outside broadcast facility.

UMWA’s capacity to manage development programmes has been strengthened through training of staff in various areas such as participatory rural appraisal methods, psychosocial approach to community empowerment, transformation and development, and additional training is underway.

Most importantly, UMWA has been facilitated with necessary equipment and logistics and funds by the International Solidarity Foundation-Finland (ISF).

Challenges

The major challenge is overwhelmed by the needs identified by the beneficiaries. Thus calling for break up and postponement of some interventions to the second phase of the programme.

Lessons learnt

Small project interventions are simply the best development approach.

Men too are victims to domestic violence and therefore need support of development practitioners.

Some bad cultural practices like male chauvinism versus women’s subordination within Uganda and other parts is a threat to domestic violence preventions campaigns.

2010 updates

The project will kick start sensitizing and identifying community activists and out of school peer educators and defined target district and sub county leaders, who will then be trained to pass on the knowledge on prevention of domestic violence to their fellow community members. Presently, UMWA has got the support of 120 community activists from the two target sub counties, elected by the community members themselves. They have been trained in communication, domestic violence, gender, human rights, and community mobilizing skills. UMWA believes in this approach for the project sustainability, as these activists can easily identify with fellow community member.

Other key activities include producing advocacy programs on 101.7 Mama FM, live communications programs (outside broadcasting), production of The Other Voice (TOV) newspaper and participating in 16 Days of Activism against gender based violence.

Ideas, views and comments are welcome!