𝐒𝐀𝐒𝐀! 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐥 𝟏𝟒𝟒 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬

In a bid to empower communities to contribute to the fulfilment of adolescent girls’ Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), YONECO has been supporting community dialogue sessions on the prevention of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Dedza and Mchinji districts.

The sessions are led by trained community facilitators using the Start Awareness Support Action (SASA!) methodology. The approach aims to inspire, enable and structure effective community mobilization to prevent GBV against women and girls.

During the dialogue sessions, communities from the areas of Traditional Authority (T/A) Mduwa, Zulu and Mkanda resolved to terminate all child marriages. As a result, from January to mid-August, 2024, a total of 144 child marriages have been terminated and 131 minors (101 girls and 30 boys) who were withdrawn from the marriages have gone back to school.

In addition, communities have also recounted that the SASA! methodology has helped them to recognize GBV, distinguish rights and violations and how to prevent GBV from happening at various levels.

The intervention is among the activities which YONECO is implementing in Mchinji and Dedza under the ‘Action for Teen Mothers and Adolescent Girls’ Project which is being funded by KOICA through UNFPA.

#AdolescentSRHR | #EndGbvNow | #CommunityEmpowerment