As we journey toward empowerment through craft, we come across some of the harsh realities of the world around us. One such reality, often faced by women in our communities, is gender-based violence (GBV).

Why cover GBV in our artisan training?

Gender-based violence is a pervasive issue globally, and Kenya is no exception. Rural women, including our artisans, are particularly vulnerable due to various factors such as limited access to resources, cultural norms, and lack of education. We included GBV in our modules, as our needs assessment showed the impact it has on our artisans' lives and recognize the importance of providing them with tools to protect themselves and their communities.

Navigating a Delicate Landscape

Training on Gender Based Violence, Bungule February 2024

Navigating the landscape of GBV can be challenging, especially in rural communities where social norms often perpetuate harmful behavior. Our modules create a safe space for discussion, where artisans can share their experiences and learn from each other. This peer support is invaluable in breaking the silence surrounding GBV and promoting a culture of solidarity and empowerment.

Knowledge covered in our module

We discuss GBV comprehensively to promote understanding, covering terminology, types, response protocols, and support strategies, whilst avoiding triggering those who experience(d) trauma, and also holding space for cultural sensitivities.Our training manual emphasizes on:

democratic principles
human rights
gender equality
awareness of everyone's rights

Additionally, it offers age-appropriate communication strategies for discussing GBV with children. Addressing common misconceptions, like victim-blaming, fosters awareness and dispels myths among participants.

Fostering Empowerment among Artisans

Knowledge is power, and understanding GBV is the first step towards empowerment. This knowledge not only raises awareness but also equips our artisans with the skills to identify abusive behavior and seek help when needed.

Moreover, our modules provide practical guidance on how to navigate situations involving GBV. This includes strategies for conflict resolution, communication skills, and access to support services. By empowering our artisans with this knowledge, we enable them to assert their rights, protect themselves, and support each other.

Discussing GBV with the Younger Generation

Parents play a crucial role in educating the generation younger about GBV. Through stories or role plays, parents can address this sensitive topic with their children. Questions such as at what age to start discussing GBV, why it's important, and how to open a forum of discussion guides parents in having these conversations. Parents help prevent future cases and promote a safer, more aware society, by talking to their children and grandchildren. We encouraged all our artisans to take the education on the important and sensitive subjects of female sexual reproductive health, in their own hands. No one cares more about the well-being of your children than yourself. For those who are wondering, why would you teach the elderly, shouldn’t you just target the younger generation? Our encouraging and interesting findings from our modules, was that the elderly women, the grandmas, the nyanya’s as we say in Kenya, are well experienced and well respected. Their life experience and status gives them a strong voice to talk to their younger female relatives. They can be a very valuable peer educator in their community.

Overall, this module on Gender-Based Violence serves as a powerful tool for communities working to prevent GBV. It facilitates learning and empowers individuals to make positive changes. It emphasizes the importance of understanding our rights, promoting fairness, and ensuring the safety of everyone, regardless of their age, in the face of GBV.

Overview of the 4 modules

The four modules around female sexual and reproductive health, have been tailored specifically for the artisans of Hadithi Crafts by Kujuwa Initiative, and have been brought to all our 64 women groups between October 2023 and March 2024, through the peer education and guidance from Kujuwa Initiative, thanks to a grant from the CIGNA foundation.

Module 1: Parent-child communication
Module 2: Sexually Transmitted Diseases, HIV and Cervical Cancer
Module 3: Menstrual health
Module 4: Gender-Based Violence

A Big Thank You to Kujuwa initiative and Cigna Foundation.

This last module was intense to teach. Some stories that these mamas came to tell, you feel for them. It was really sad and uplifting at the same time. Very moving, you feel it in your heart. On one hand you are so sad for what some women are bearing, but on the other hand it was so strong to teach this module, we can see that the women being there for each other can really help someone. They have understood that they can have a choice, and they have learnt how they can help each other. It really made me feel very passionate about the teaching and about the women.
Lilly, (one of the 20 trained trainers)

Training on Menstrual Health, january 2024

Victoria (Kujuwa Initiative) tells us:

We were used to bringing trainings in sexual and reproductive health to school children and young adults. Initially I thought the Hadithi artisans might not be exactly our target audience. I have now seen how our trainings can have even more impact. The elderly women in this community are respected, and speak with a lot of life experience. They are not shy. They were interested and engaged, and I’m sure some will be fantastic mentors to the youth and children in their families and communities.

Hadithi artisans are effectively change agents in their community, accelerating change for the next generation as they posess accurate information to break barriers and empower the community.

Join us in celebrating IWD 2024 by investing in women and accelerating progress towards gender equality.

Blog

Threads of impact, Chapter 1. Navigating Gender-Based Violence