YONECO, through its district office in Mwanza, organized a youth engagement session as one of the steps towards ending Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the district.
The activity that was held on 16 April 2025, aimed at promoting dialogue and empowering the youth to take active roles in prevention of GBV in their communities.
The session was attended by a total of 12 young participants, 7 girls and 5 boys, who engaged in various interactive activities, including group discussions and role-plays.
The session firstly introduced the concept of GBV and later, the young participants were engaged to explore the roots of GBV in power imbalances and social inequalities that come into play. During the discussions, it was agreed that GBV affects all genders, although it is often perpetrated by males against females.
“The youth should understand that fighting GBV isn’t just about raising awareness; it’s also about taking action within their circles. They also need to realize that they have the power to influence attitudes and challenge harmful norms,” said Mary Chimenya, one of the facilitators from YONECO.
During the session, the participants were supported with practical tools to recognize and respond to GBV in their designated communities.
At the end of the session, the facilitators shared YONECO’s toll-free helplines (116, 5600, and 393) for reporting abuse or seeking assistance as one way of ensuring continued support beyond the session.
