Gender Equality Cameroon Project #60049

Resilience Building for GBV Survivors

by Refugees Welfare Association

Project Report | Mar 10, 2024
GBV Same Sex Focus Group Discussions

By Dr. Mukete Tahle Itoe,PhD | Project Supervisor

REWAC Project Dream Team

Same-sex focus groups were one of the strategies adopted by REWAC to address the issue of SGBV in communities. Altogether, 7 same-sex focus groups were organized in the communities. 2 were organized in Wum, 1 in Belo, and 4 in Bamendakwe. There were 15 participants in each focus group with 6 of them being female focus groups and 1 being male. Issues discussed during the FGD sessions were around the understanding of community members about GBV, the various forms of GBV encountered in the community, the profile of survivors as well as that of perpetrators, the effect of SGBV on survivors, the attitudes of the community towards survivors and perpetrators, the type of support services available to the community and the access to these services by survivors. These sessions helped the project team have a better understanding of the community norms as concerns SGBV, helping them better tailor their activities to efficiently respond to the needs of the population.

Output: 7 focus group discussions were held with 7 same sex groups it 105 participants (90 female and 15 male).

Outcome: In-depth understanding of perceptions of sexual violence through Insights gained from the focus group discussions provide a comprehensive understanding of the perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs related to sexual violence among participants

Identification of barriers and challenges as participants contribute to identifying barriers and challenges that prevent individuals from reporting or seeking support for sexual violence, highlighting gaps in services and interventions.

Generation of recommendations and strategies by participants to effectively collaborate and address sexual violence, taking into account the specific needs and concerns of the same-sex community.

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Oct 30, 2023
Engaging community stakeholders

By Mukete Tahle | Project Supervisor

The Project titled: Resilience Building for GBV Survivors in the northwest region of Cameroon on the GlobalGiving Platform and implemented by Refugee Welfare Association has the goal to build the resilience of GBV survivors in the Northwest Region of Cameroon through a multi-faceted approach which include but not limited to:

Lobbying and Exchange Forum: Engage with key stakeholders, including government authorities,
community leaders, and civil society organizations, to advocate for policies and practices that protect GBV
survivors and promote gender equality. Facilitate regular exchange forums to share best practices and
foster collaboration among stakeholders.
2. Training and Capacity Building: Conduct specialized training programs to enhance the skills and
knowledge of service providers, community leaders, and relevant stakeholders. This includes capacity
building on trauma-informed care, gender-responsive programming, and legal rights to ensure
comprehensive and effective support for GBV survivors.
3. Provision of Support: Establish safe spaces and support centers where GBV survivors can access
comprehensive services, including counseling, medical care, legal aid, and economic empowerment
programs. Ensure that the support services are survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally
sensitive.
4. Sensitization and Awareness Raising: Conduct community-based awareness campaigns to challenge
harmful gender norms, promote gender equality, and prevent GBV. Utilize various communication
channels, such as radio, community meetings, and educational materials, to reach a wide audience and
foster a supportive environment for GBV survivors.
Expected Impact:

By enhancing social, economic, and legal protection for GBV survivors, this project aims to
achieve several significant outcomes:
1. Improved well-being and resilience of GBV survivors through comprehensive support services and
psychosocial care.
2. Enhanced economic stability and self-reliance of survivors through livelihood support programs, reducing
their vulnerability to future abuse.
3. Increased access to justice and legal protection for survivors through legal aid services and awareness of existing laws and resources.
4. Shifted social norms and attitudes towards gender equality, reducing the prevalence of GBV and creating
a supportive environment for survivors.

So far, we have received only a meagre $ 1000 out of the targeted $100,000 USD for the project intended to last for one year. We have therefore just undertaken a Multi-stake holder meeting with the money received via GlobalGiving. Worthy of note is that the genearl line down of the general project costs over $149,000 and has other partners such as The Smart Peace Foundation, and OSIWA.

To Conclude, the lesson learned within the first quarter is the involvement of the community at every level of the project implementation is very vital. It gives real time information that can better structure the activities to be implemented, thereby increasing efficiency of project activities and community engagement, especially through the key leaders of the community who help boost community participation which is very vital for the success of project activities.

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