Virgin Heart Foundation May 2022, Newsletter.
ACTIVITY 5 QUARTERLY MONITORING VISIT TO WOMEN PEER EDUCATORS DURING PEER SESSION UMUOMA OBIWURUOTU WOMEN’S WING, OGBE  On the 5th of may 2022, Virgin Heart Foundation with support from Action Aid Nigeria held her second quarterly monitoring exercise of the peer educators during session, Umuoma Obiwuruotu Women’s wing Ogbe. The group facilitator, Mrs Nkem Nwosu taught on “Disability”, through the AAN manual, module 2, unit 9. She charged the women to always have empathy on people with disability especially women with disability. She also indicated that people with disability have rights and should be protected from all forms of violence and socio-cultural norms that exacerbates VAWG. The women reviewed their decision on campaigning against all forms of VAWG in market places, especially illegal tasking of women in the market places. Mrs Nwosu recalled that they women had paid courtesy visit to the traditional ruler and charged him to stop illegal tariff and task in the market areas. They suggested that an annual receipt should be published to serve the women yearly for accountability. CONCLUSION/OUTCOME The group also reached a resolution to bring about community development by demanding that leaders perform their responsibilities as representatives of the people. Part of this resolution was the demand for accountability, accessible roads and electricity supplies. Virgin Heart Foundation team on a monitoring visit promised to ensure that their resolutions are meant. SECOND QUARTERLY MONITORING VISIT TO WOMEN PEER EDUCATORS DURING SESSION, CWO OGBENNEISII.  On the 6th of may 2022, Virgin Heart Foundation with support from Action Aid Nigeria held the second quarterly monitoring exercise at CWO Ogbenneisii. The women been sensitized on the harmful socio cultural norms that powers VAWG in the community are beginning to question why such cultural norms are still are still practiced even at the detriment of women safe spaces. The Director, National Human Right commission, Imo State chapter, Ukah Ukachi enjoined women to team up to achieve a common goal and ensure that Violence Against Women And girls in Ogbenneisii is curbed. She spoke on fundamental human rights, added that the constitution backed up such right of women and enjoyment to certain rights and privileges and should not be discriminated because of their gender. She hinted that any culture or socio norms that violates rights of women and girls is an affront to the law The harmful practices such as Female Genital Mutilation, spousal battery, sexual harassment and forceful eviction were noted as issues that the women should address among themselves. She reminded them that the project wants to see positive socio cultural changes in the community and the change is in their hands. CONCLUSION/OUTCOME: Some women become victims of violence simply because they are ignorant of their right. They women were greatly exposed and sensitized on their rights as women. There was an improved reporting channel. QUARTERLY REVIEW MEETING TO WOMEN PEER EDUCATORS DURING SESSION CWO OGBE. Virgin heart foundation, on the 7th of may 2022 embarked on a monitoring visit to women peer educators during peer session with CWO Ogbe This session was anchored by CWO Ogbe facilitator. Mrs Charity Ugwuibe. Using the Action Aid teaching guide, module 1, unit 7, taught on perseverance and resilience. She quoted that tough times don’t last but tough people last. Three women shared various challenges they had and how they were able to scare through and encouraged others to be steadfast in their journey of motherhood A picture in the module showed a situation where a family’s house was flooded, it was only the woman that was making possible efforts to put things in order.This indicates that in cases of insecurity, it is the woman that first protects the family because she is always around and at alert. Virgin heart foundation team on a monitoring visit to CWO, reminded them of their right to live free from violence and it is in their hands to make it work. The internal(sub committee) committee formed among interest members within the group where charged to be dutiful, avoid laissez-faire attitude because what affects one, affects others and persist in making certain changes in the community. CONCLUSION: The teaching in the module was reflected to their duties to this call for change, it may not always be smooth, there must be challenges, but in all, perseverance and resilience conquers all. QUARTERLY REVIEW MEETING WITH ACTIVE WOMEN(WOMEN PEER EDUCATORS)  On the 8th of may 2022, Virgin Heart Foundation Team with support from Action Aid Nigeria held their Second Quarterly Review Meeting with the women peer educators to review their second quarter report from various peer groups and to learn various referral pathways. The peer educators expressed joy on how the project is making positive impacts in the lives of people. They reviewed how they have been yearning for social behavioral changes, sensitizing people within and outside their various group. Virgin Heart Foundation team while addressing the women, spoke broadly on gender inequality as the main cause of violence against women and girls. The women were sensitized on female inheritance The Nigerian supreme court, has upheld the right of a female child to inherit properties of her father, but the igbo customary law of inheritance which excludes female children from inheriting the properties of their deceased fathers and this is against the non-discriminating provision of the Nigerian constitution of 1999 and therefore void. Everybody should be treated equally irrespective of the sex. CONCLUSION/OUTCOME The peer educator sensitizing people within and outside their various groups despite the doggedness is a serious sign of commitment. This indicates that the organization is using the right people to implement the project. There was increased awareness and sensitization on female inheritance. ONE DAY TRAINING/INAUGURAL MEETING FOR COMMUNITY COMMITTEE AS VAWG RESPONSE TEAM(OGBE/OGBENNEISII).  On the 9th of may 2022, virgin heart foundation summoned together relevant stakeholders from Ogbe and Ogbenneisii to mobilize and empower them on addressing socio cultural norms that exacerbates VAWG. This is one of the sustainability plans of the AAN SLOC project. The ED of Virgin Heart Foundation gave an overview of the organization, AAN SLOC project and what it tends to achieve. The Director, NHRC Imo state chapter, Mrs Ukah Ukachi explained human right as those natural entitlements enjoy simply because we are humans, irrespective of the circumstance of birth, status and sex. Regarding to this, she had been empowered by NHRC to empower them to tackle issues of violence in order to ensure sanity and peace in their communities. She further explained that every case must not be referred to court and stated the needs for the committee to handle cases of violence among themselves. She highlighted the various forms of violence perpetrated against women and girls and noted that the issue of violence against women and girls cannot be over emphasized because women are are more vulnerable to violence. The committee were given limit of cases they should handle. They were cautioned not to handle cases of defilement because they are criminal offence. She charged, the committee to a have written document/policies to guide them. The policy making should be based on erasing the harmful socio norms that exacerbates VAWG and including the positive ones. CONCLUSION/OUTCOMES They community committee training was successfully implemented. The members of the committee unanimously agreed that the committee will bear the name “EKWE” and also having an office there in Ogbe. They also resolved on meeting the Ezes of the two communities and the DPO to make their decision known to them. Focal person were chosen from the two communities. SECOND QUARTERLY REVIEW MEETING WITH THE GIRL’S RIGHT CLUB OF BRILLIANT SECONDARY SCHOOL OGBENNEISII.  Virgin Heart Foundation Team was at Brilliant Secondary School Ogbenneisii, on the 10th of may 2022 for her second quarterly review meeting with the female Peer Educators to review their previous club activities. The team also seized the opportunity to educate the whole students on child’s Right Law. This Right protects children from been trampled upon and enable them to reach their fullest potentials. The child’s Right Law was facilitator by Barrister Ihunanyachukwu Okoroji of the National Human Right Commission. She explained the various rights of a child and noted that children and young people have the same rights as adult. They are human beings and should subject to their own rights. Irrespective of been under the care of their parents and subjected to obey them, their interest is also paramount. She mentioned the vices that could hinder the enjoyment of these rights to include; FGMChild marriageDefilements etc. She advised the students to always have their birth certificate, this will help them to get legal justice when their rights are been violated. CONCLUSION/OUTCOME To curb these practices that hinder the enjoyment of rights of a child, students were assigned to always educate their peers and always report to the right channel when the feel their rights are been violated. There was increased awareness of the rights of a child, with this the students can boldly stand and say no to their defeats. SECOND QUARTERLY SLOC-VAWG RADIO APPEARANCE .   Virgin Heart Foundation with support from Actionaid Nigeria was on the 11th May, 2022 on Radio, Gold 89.3fm owerri for the second quarter SLOC Radio Appearance. The SLOC, project, being, impact-based project had successfully push towards positive behavioural changes from some of the harmful socio –cultural norms that exacerbates VAWG in the project communities. VHF Team speaking on at 30minutes live radio program, pointed out the need for a collective effort to ending VAWG by addressing harmful socio-cultural norms that powers VAWG. The team regretted that women and girls are always at the receiving end of the negative impacts of harmful socio-cultural norms in communities, ranging from Female Genital Mutilation, Spousal control and eviction, harmful widowhood practices , domestic, economic violence and sexual abuse. It noted that communities should always review these cultural practices that infringes on women’s rights. The team advocated for equal opportunities for women and girls, without necessarily discriminating them due to their gender. VHF called on the government to structure system and provide enabling environment where women and girls and all victims of violence can access free service. This could be achieve through domestication of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition law, VAPP, and provision Assaults Referral Centres and psychosocial supports to survivors of Violence.  Today Team of Coalition of Eastern NGOs, CENGO led by Mr. Richard Nwamadi visited Virgin Heart Foundation for a conversation on our work to ending Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting, FGM, especially with the use of the media. Female Genital Mutilation is a violation of women’s rights and an afront to Human rights. Various Sensitization and awareness programs have helped to record a decline in the practice, especially with type 1-3 unfortunately many people see nothing wrong with practicing type 4(massaging, numbing and applying hot water on girls genitals) Virgin Heart Foundation is reaching- out to communities, Women, Men and Girls, Local or Traditional Birth Attendants through the ongoing ActionAid Nigeria SLOC_ VAWG project , on changing harmful Socio-Cultural norms that exacerbates VAWG. |
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