SECOND ANNUAL SOUTHERN AFRICA LOCAL

Women empowerment
GOVERNMENT AND GENDER JUSTICE
SUMMIT AND AWARDS
28 – 30 MARCH 2011
KOPANONG HOTEL, JOHANNESBURG,
SOUTH AFRICA
“365 DAYS OF LOCAL ACTION TO END GENDER
VIOLENCE: HALVE GENDER VIOLENCE BY 2015”

GIRLS EMPOWERMENT
CLUBS “THE SKY IS THE
 HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT IDENTIFYING
THIS PROBLEM?
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• The prevalence of GBV and child sexual abuse cases in

Swaziland is drastically high.
• As we live in a patriarchal society the girl child has been the
most vulnerable
• This was also informed by a national survey done in
2007,which indicated that less than 1in 7 incidents are
reported mostly this cases are not reported at all.
• Through schools sensitization program.
• Reported cases from SWAGAA six sites
• Reported cases from police
• Reported cases from child protectors, community police
caregivers and community authorities.

GIRLS EMPOWERMENT
 IS THIS ISSUE IMPORTANT?
Women empowerment

• YES, it is important.

• Studies have shown that the girl-child is the most

vulnerable in society. Research indicated that violence
against female children is highly prevalent in Swaziland.

• 1 in 3 females experience some form of sexual violence

as a child, nearly 1 in 4 females experience some form
of physical violence as a child and 3 in 10 experience
emotional violence as a child. Worse is that only 1 in 5
cases are reported, thus the girl child needs immediate
attention.

GIRLS EMPOWERMENT
CLUBS “THE SKY IS THE
LIMIT”
 HOW ARE YOU GOING ABOUT
ADDRESSING THI S PROBLEM?
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• In response to the alarming statistics SWAGAA

developed a program targeted in empowering
young women in Swaziland.
• These clubs meets weekly to raise awareness and
girls knowledge based on issues affecting their
lives both directly and indirectly.
• These clubs facilitates confidence building
amongst girls.
• Sharing of information on issues affecting them
such as abuse, HIV and AIDS, child rights, sexual
reproductive health, human trafficking, gender
and career development

GIRLS EMPOWERMENT
 WHAT IS THE TIME-FRAME FOR THE
PROJECT?
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• Upon successful completion of the

manual the clubs are evaluated
based on their performance and
their level of empowerment the
club is then launched.
• It is a 3 phase project divided into
–formation stage, growth stage
and sustainability stage.

GIRLS EMPOWERMENT
 WHO IS THE KEY TARGET? WHO IS
INVOLVED? ARE WOMEN AND MEN
EQUALLY INVOLVED?
WOMEN AND EMPOWERMENT

• In school girls from Primary and

High school both rural and urban
areas. Our main focus is in rural
areas where information is not
easily accessible.
• We have also seen that there is a
great need of establishing boys
club.

GIRLS EMPOWERMENT
 PARTNERSHIPS FORMED THROUGH THE
PROJECT
PROJECTS: WOMEN

• Ministry of Education- training of career

EMPOWERMENT

guidance teachers
• National Children’s Coordination Unit (NCCU)-
coordinating children issues.
• Other stakeholders with expertise on
different fields and for referral purposes
• Family Life Association-sexual reproductive
health
• Save the children- children rights
• World vision- children consortium

GIRLS EMPOWERMENT
 RESOURCEFULNESS: WHAT FINANCIAL,
HUMAN AND OTHER RESOURCES WERE
MOBILISED?
Women Empowerment

• Funding from Canadian Crossroad

International –project
implementation
• Funding from UNICEF- clubs
launch
• Fundraising dinner- organised by
NIFFTY consultant.

Girls Empowerment Clubs

 MONITORING AND EVALUATION
PROJECTS: WOMEN
EMPOWERMENT

• Started of by asking ourselves as to who are we

reaching? And what are we doing? Reach girls,
through club establishment
• Weekly registration forms
• Training attendance list
• Field visit reports.
• Monthly, quarterly, semi, annually reports
• Through the use of a tool called “ the Journal”
• M& E is an ongoing process

GIRLS EMPOWERMENT
 WHAT RESULTS HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED?
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• Reduction in teenage pregnancy

• Girls are excelling academically
• Boys clubs have also been established.
• Drastic change in confidence level
• Cases are being reported
• Pride of learning her own value importance
• Confidence in sharing their life stories and
coming out with realistic solution

GIRLS EMPOWERMENT
 IMPACT (BASED ON THE SADC
PROTOCOL TARGETS)
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• Article 11, the girl and boy child

• we are committed to the total empowerment of the girl child
as well as the eradication of all forms of abuse and practices
that in part or in whole, directly or indirectly, impede on full
physical, emotional and spiritual growth.
• Article 21:2
• The expansion in girls’ ability to make strategic life choices
in a context where this ability was previously denied.

• Article 23, support services

• We train 40 girls to be peer supporters on issues related to
GBV and case reporting.

GIRLS EMPOWERMENT
 EFFECTIVENESS

• It was started of as a pilot project in three

PROJECTS: WOMEN
EMPOWERMENT

primary and high schools.

• To date, 8 clubs have been successfully
established and launched.
• Most schools are coming in to request SWAGAA
to establish similar clubs.
• Planning to upscale to 100 schools/cover the
whole of swaziland if funding allows us.

GIRLS EMPOWERMENT
 SUSTAINABILITY AND REPLICATION
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• We encourage community ownership so

that the project can be owned by the
community.
• Yes it can be replicated, adapted manuals
from Zimbabwe (girl child network) and
translated into our local context.
• That can be done due to availability of
resources.

GIRLS EMPOWERMENT
 LESSONS LEARNED
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• Train parents on positive parenting.

• Involve community and relevant structures
e.g child protection
• To compile the girls ‘Most Significant
Change stories as an M & E for the
programme
• To support clubs with income generating
projects
• To facilitate more exchange visits for clubs
in order to share

GIRLS EMPOWERMENT
 ‘Quote’

“once you empower the girl-child you have actually

empowered the whole nation”
PROJECTS: WOMEN
EMPOWERMENT

Thank
you…
siyabonga!

GIRLS EMPOWERMENT