Raising the difficult issues
There are many things that are not talked about. Bikombo (25) talks about exactly that.
Bikombo Omar Salum (25) has become a resource for her local community. She teaches children, youth, and adults about topics such as child marriage, sexuality, and violence.
“What can be the consequences of gender-based violence?” asks Bikombo Omar Salum.
A group of girls and boys sit in front of her in the classroom. All are paying close attention to the young woman speaking to them, some with their hands raised.
“Stress,” answers one girl.
“You might not be able to go to school,” says another.
“A psychological effect. That you no longer have good self-esteem,” replies a boy.
“That you can die,” says another.
Leading conversations
We are at a school in the village of Chimba on the island of Pemba, part of the Zanzibar archipelago in Tanzania. Bikombo Omar Salum spreads knowledge to raise awareness about gender-based violence and other difficult topics in her local community. She has higher education in gender and development and received training from Norwegian Church Aid on how to talk with communities about these issues.
“I talk with young people about sexual and reproductive health, violence, and peacebuilding. I also talk about, for example, rape and early marriage,” says Bikombo.
She leads three different groups that meet once a week: a village group for boys and girls, a school group for boys and girls, and an agricultural group with young people and adults working with climate-smart agriculture. Norwegian Church Aid facilitates the running of these groups.
Boys are important
Bikombo explains that there are several problems in her community.
“In this society there is a lack of knowledge, for example about the fact that it is not acceptable to beat your wife. Many topics are taboo, due to both culture and religion. You cannot talk about sexuality, health, and violence. But I do,” she says.
Bikombo has several messages to the youngsters.
“I tell them about the consequences of early marriage, among other things. I tell them that when you marry early, you also have children early, and you can face complications and illnesses. You miss out on many opportunities, such as getting an education. Many drop out of school when they marry early,” says Bikombo.
She also informs girls and women about where they can seek help if they are subjected to abuse or rape.
“I tell them to report to local leaders and the police if they see anything suspicious, and I tell them they can seek support if they need it themselves,” she says.
There are both boys and girls in all the groups Bikombo works with.
“It is important that boys and men are involved, both because we want to be inclusive and work for equality, but also because young men are part of the solution. When you give them knowledge and training, they become part of the solution,” says Bikombo.
In the agricultural groups, which also include adults, she talks with mothers and fathers who then pass the knowledge on to their children.
Spreading knowledge
Norwegian Church Aid works in many places around the world on prevention and response to gender-based violence. NCA also works to promote sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Khelef Nassor Rashid is a program assistant for Norwegian Church Aid on Pemba. He explains that Norwegian Church Aid cooperates with local authorities and religious actors in this field.
He says that early marriage is a problem in the area. Raising awareness about violence, abuse, and child marriage is an important part of Norwegian Church Aid’s work on Pemba.
“If more people gain knowledge, fewer will be married off early. When Bikombo teaches and informs in these groups, the knowledge spreads further to others in the community as well,” he says.
Gender-based violence
- Gender-based violence can include sexual, physical, psychological, and economic harm inflicted in public or private settings.
- It also includes threats of violence, coercion, and manipulation. This can take many forms, such as domestic violence, sexual violence, child marriage, female genital mutilation, and so-called “honor killings.”
- The consequences of gender-based violence are devastating and can have lifelong effects for survivors. It can even lead to death.
Source: UNHCR
