Spotlight Initiative Empowers GBV Survivors in Nkhata Bay
Many survivors of GBV, despite being knowledgeable of root causes of GBV, continue to suffer from the vice due to lack of economic empowerment which can lead to self-sustenance.
NKHATA BAY, Malawi— Realising that economic security is the most important aspect of empowering survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) and to prevent them from further vulnerability, the Girls Empowerment Network (Genet-Malawi) under the UNFPA supported Spotlight Initiative is promoting economic development of GBV survivors in Nkhata Bay district, writes Howard Mlozi.
Awareness on causes and effects of GBV alone is not helping to curb the vice, research has revealed.
Many survivors of GBV, despite being knowledgeable of root causes of GBV, continue to suffer from the vice due to lack of economic empowerment which can lead to self-sustenance.
“Economic empowerment is the sure way to supporting survivors of GBV in the country. Often times, women return to abusive homes to endure violence because they have no alternative to escape abuse. This is the reason why you will find a well-informed woman enduring pain because she has no where to go,” observed Wezzie Phiri from the area of Group Village Kankhongwe in TA Mankhambira in Nkhata Bay district.
As a member of Young Women’s Network established by Genet-Malawi to fight GBV, Wezzie thinks economic independence is key to preventing women from the jaws of GBV and other vulnerabilities like HIV/AIDS.
It is against this background that Genet-Malawi through the Spotlight Initiative introduced the GBV Survivors Fund to economically empower women in the area.
Juliet Simbeyi is Genet-Malawi’s project coordinator in Nkhata Bay district and she said the Spotlight Initiative is changing young women’s lives.
"Since 2019 to June this year, Genet has been implementing the Spotlight Initiative-funded programme to empower girls and women to fight GBV. Among other things, the girls and women were trained in leadership and advocacy skills in order to prepare them to become agents of their own change," said Simbeyi.
‘‘We believe that with a tailor-made leadership program, girls and women can become advocates of their own rights and change"
According to Simbeyi, Genet has managed to establish over 80 girls and young women’s clubs (both in schools and communities) which work to fight gender related issues like child marriages, teen pregnancies and HIV/AIDS, and GBV.
The clubs have an approximate membership of between 20 and 40 each.
Simbeyi said over time, Genet introduced the economic empowerment component which caters for the survivors of GBV.
“We introduced the Survivors fund under the Spotlight Initiative to help young women become economically independent as one way of empowering them to escape the wrath of violence,” she said.
Ana Otsogola Survivors Fund group from the area of TA Mankhambira in Nkhatabay district is one of the young women’s groups which is performing well.
Apart from using the funds to support other survivors of GBV to access help from relevant service providers, Ana Otsogola Survivors Fund Committee is using part of the fund to empower themselves economically through a Women’s Revolving Saving Loans (WRSLs).
Young Women’s mentor from the area Maria Lutepo said the revolving fund has enabled the group members to venture into small scale businesses which have empowered them to become economically independent.
She said poverty is one of the root causes of violence in her area and it exposes many women to danger.
“We thank the Spotlight Initiative through Genet for introducing the Survivors’ Fund because it has not only empowered survivors of GBV economically but also supported other survivors of GBV to access justice. The group received an investment capital of K764, 600 in 2021 which has grown to K2.5 million this year,” said Lutepo.
According to Lutepo, Ana Otsogola Survivors Fund has a membership of 20 young women who are involved in individual small scale businesses. But as a group they are into poultry business as the committee’s main income generating activity.
Lutepo said so far, the group has used part of the profits to organize more than 10 awareness campaigns on GBV prevention and response in their area.
She said through these campaigns, many people have been sensitized on how to report and seek help when they experience or witness GBV cases.
She also said that some cases have been referred to police and health facilities with the help of Genet-Malawi staff who are always available for support.
The Spotlight Initiative is a partnership between the Government of Malawi, European Union, United Nations, and Civil Society.
It focuses on eliminating violence against women and girls, including Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and Harmful Practices.
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