As part of our January community initiative, Sound Sense Deaf Empowerment Initiative successfully carried out a sustainability and community sensitization activity on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Kuje, Abuja, with the generous support of the Nigeria Women’s Trust Fund (NWTF).
Building Community Ownership First
Our intervention began with intentional community engagement. We paid a courtesy visit to the traditional chief, seeking his support and blessing for the activity. This step was crucial in strengthening trust, fostering community ownership, and ensuring that the sensitization efforts were culturally respectful and locally accepted.
Adapting in the Face of Challenges
Originally, our plan focused on school-based GBV advocacy, targeting students and teachers directly. However, due to the ongoing school strike in Abuja, we had to rethink our approach quickly.
Instead of postponing the activity, we adapted.
The Market Became Our Classroom
The local market became our meeting point. We created a safe and welcoming space within the market environment and engaged community members in small batches as they arrived. This approach allowed for interactive and meaningful conversations around GBV awareness, prevention, and collective responsibility.
Through this strategy, we reached a diverse audience—parents, teachers, students, traders, and business owners—making the sensitization inclusive and impactful.
What we could not achieve through schools due to the strike, we achieved through the market. The market proved to be one of the most effective platforms for community sensitization: active, accessible, and deeply rooted in everyday community life.
A Collective Call to Action
Ending Gender-Based Violence is not the responsibility of a few—it is a collective call to action. Communities must challenge harmful norms, speak up against abuse, and actively protect women, girls, and boys.
When communities take ownership of the conversation, real and lasting change becomes possible.
We are in this together.
Let’s end GBV, partner with us today, or give a donation towards this course.