NGO Trains Youths On Triggers Of Gender-based Violence

An NGO, Hayche Multi Service Solution, has trained male members of faith-based youths organisations on triggers and prevention of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in homes and communities.

The five-day training, which is a train-the-trainer workshop, was organised by Hayche Multi Service Solution, working with Christian youth organisations to end GBV in homes, groups, commuities and churches.

The Christian youths were drawn from the South-East and North Central – Anambra and Enugu states  as well as Benue and Plateau.

Mr Wilfred Okeke, the Programme Coordinator (+M) Positive Masculinity Programme, said the facilitators were being trained on effect attitudinal change on adolescent boys and young male adults,  to drive a gender-equitable masculine identity.

According to him, the programme is meant for adolescent boys and young males to reflect on issues, practices and teachings both on religion tradition, customs and stereotypes that trigger, encourage and justify violence againt women and girls.

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“The (+M) Positive Masculinity Programme is a programme meant to encourage and support individual behavioural change and socio-emotional change among adolescent boys and young males.

“It is also meant to change negative and stereotyped social norms and attitude of what it means to be a man; thus, males coming to treat female and women with equity and respect, not lording it over them that usually creates friction, disagreement and violence.

“The programme tries to shift this negative norms and stereotype that the man or male is dominant and must lord it over the female and see that she is suppressed and subjugated.” (NAN)

This leads to most violence scenes in homes, groups, communities and the Church.

Okeke explained that the programme targeted training christain youths due to the discovery that there were some misquoted biblical quotations people always used to encourage or perpetrate GBV in homes.

“They do this in error by not giving the biblical quotations contextual and historical background and meaning to actually create proper understanding of what the Holy Bible is truly saying,” he said.

Okeke said that the programme would leverage on existing structures of Christian Youths Organisations in various Churches in South-East and North Central parts of the country to step down the training.

“We intend to approach GBV from a preventive stance where all Christian adolescence boys and youth males learn and re-learn how to treat our sisters, women and mothers better for a peaceful and more loving homes, communities, groups and Church.”

One of the participants, Mr Ifeanyi Ohaju, said he had learnt to treat females with respect, ensure they were not discriminated in all decisions and shun all name-calling and gossip against them.

“I have learnt that GBV can be psychological, financial, sexual and physical and as male we must ensure the home, group and community is conducive for the female to be happy, feel loved and respected,” Ohaju said. (NAN)