Samba Sports Youth Agenda launched program aimed at ending Gender Violence
Mohammed Mwachausa Director Sambasports youth agenda/Photo Caroline Kahonzi
By Caroline Kahonzi
Community based organization Samba Sports Youth Agenda has launched a VAR CALL play by “The shade of samba “as one of the ways of curbing gender based violence against young girls and women in Kwale county.
The move by the organization is following the increasing numbers of gender based violence in the society especially early pregnancies and marriages and violation of human rights.
Speaking to journalists during the launch at Kombani showground, Director of Sambasports youth agenda Mohammed Mwachausa said the play brings out a clear picture of rights violations in society and creates a call of emergency for everyone to take action on ending GBV.
“We have been sensitizing the community against GBV but all in vain but VAR CALL seeks to make every stakeholder and community to come up with appropriate measures to end gender based violence and have society that is free from early pregnancies, early marriages and any form of rights violations, “Said Mr.Mwachausa.
The director says Sambasports youth agenda has managed to sensitize approximately 30,000 children and not less than 6,000 parents for a period of four and half years against gender based violence in kwale county.
“Sambasports in partnership with other stakeholders like plan International,Basetitanium, County and National government, Aga khan foundation ,Coded from holland and media and we were able to disseminate the information across the areas but it was not easy for us because we faced challenges, people had very high expectations on us ,some expected some cash from us ,others wanted help to succeed their talents but we overcame all these, our aim is to see girls have safe space in society, “Posed Mr.Mwachausa.
Mr.Mwachausa added that the organization doesn’t only support youth talents but also provides life skills.
“I want to make it clear that, we don’t build youths talents only but take that opportunity to bring them together and teach them life skills, they spend little time on plays but more time on learning life skills, our aim is seeing youths benefit from their talents or gain information on how to fight child exploitation, “Lamented Mr.Mwachausa.
Mishi Mayumbe, a girl child advocate in Kwale County said there is a gap between policy and practice.
“The gender issues happening in our communities are so dynamic, there those who require conducive environment to be dealt with, and some require high secrecy environments, some women don’t feel comfortable on sharing what they are going through,so I advocate for consistent sensitization especially community based cultural friendly sensitization forums that seeks to see women and girls opening up to gender based violence facing them, ” Posed Ms.Mayumbe.
She termed gender based violence as a threat to peace and security of girls and women.
“As human beings we all live in a world of fear so when it incorporated with GBV challenges it becomes worse in that to tap the thinking towards the development of a girl or woman who has been affected, the confidence and self esteem that contribute towards development will no longer be seen in women or girls, “Said Ms.Mayumbe.
Gender and special programs coordinator and youth mentor for girls and young women in Sambasports youth agenda organization Mwanaisha Kuwania called upon women and girls to amplify their voices against any form of violation.
“If you are living in a situation that you feel you rights are being violated then speak out, we need to stand together men and women to end this menace, we can end early pregnancies without men, we can’t end violation against women without men, it’s a call for everybody because we need to make men understand why they are violating the rights of women and girls ,and violation is not only physical but can be mental violation ,so we need to create more awareness for people to understand the types of violation and come together to end this menace, “Emphasized Ms.Kuwania.
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