BY IRENE MOYO INTERVENTIONS by Emthonjeni Women’s Forum, through its Start Awareness Support Action (Sasa) Faith Project have helped transform victims of gender-based violence (GBV) in Insiza district, Matabeleland South province into business owners and community leaders.
Last Friday, beneficiaries of the programme gave testimonies of how the programme assisted them to recover from being victims of abuse.
One of the GBV victims (name withheld to protect her), said before she benefited from the programme, she experienced emotional abuse from her husband who did not want her to leave the house to venture into self-help projects.
“I was a housewife who was only allowed to do home duties and never leave the house. I was never allowed to meet other women or to go to the shops because my husband thought I might be negatively influenced by other women. Sasa faith came in and I was invited by another woman to attend. I pleaded with my husband and eventually he allowed me to attend the event,” she said.
After she started making money, her husband began to support her, and they set up a shop and are now selling groceries.
“I now lead businesswomen in my community and assist other women to deal with GBV,” she added.
Another victim said her husband supported her as she took on leadership roles in her community.
“When Sasa faith came in, we were all empowered with knowledge on how we should treat and support each other as couples. The lessons helped us to deal with GBV and my husband now supports me financially through selling clothes and groceries,” the woman said.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Another woman said: “I sell vegetables and contribute money with other women to buy cattle and other valuable assets, and I have earned all the respect from my husband.”
Emthonjeni Women’s Forum programmes officer Nozithelo Mapholisa said: “Sasa is a Swahili name that means now. For us it means that now is the time to end GBV. It has four stages, Start, Awareness, Support and Action. Sasa is a methodology we use in the fight against GBV. It brings together community leaders and religious groups who work together to prevent violence against women and HIV. It promotes justice, peace and dignity.”
The programme will run for four years in Insiza.
