on 21st and 23rd September 2022 WfW-Rwanda conducted two behaviors change communication campaigns in Mareba Sector/Bugesera District, to try to address these norms through Sketches and drama led by Change Agents and Male Champions.
WfW-Rwanda is implementing the five years project (March 2019- Feb2024) titled “Men engage for gender norm transformation in Rwanda” in Bugesera District which aims to demonstrate that effectively engaging man in WfW-Rwanda’s tried and tested women’s empowerment program enhances positive outcomes and wellbeing for both men and women.
Program objective one “Targeted men and women in Rwanda report more gender-equitable attitudes and behaviors, with a treatment group of 150 women and 170 men reporting greater gains than the control group of 150 women” was implemented in 2019- September 2021. while objective two “Community and institutional perceptions, services, and practices are more gender-equitable, based on advocacy efforts by 17 female change agents and 17 male champions.
In this regard, Change Agents have identified the 3 most harmful gender norms/attitudes that hinder gender equality and can contribute to GBV in the intervention zone. Among them:
- Alcohol abuse and its connection to GBV
- Polygamy and abandonment
- Imbalance in household property management (economic violence)
on 21st and 23rd, of September 2022 WfW-Rwanda conducted two behaviors change communication campaigns in Mareba Sector/Bugesera District, to try to address these norms through Sketches and drama led by Change Agents and Male Champions. This campaign matches with the Eastern Province initiative “GAD” Gender Accountability Day, conducted from 19th to 25th September 2022.
From the sketch (Urumuri/light) performed by Change Agents illustrating two families, one living peacefully and with equality in decision making and another where the husband was abusing alcohol and perpetrating different forms of GBV, during the discussion with attendants, the audience testified that “many couples are living in the conflict in their communities due to alcohol abuse and negative use of power and it affects their families in different ways”. Among the consequences are Poverty, malnutrition to children, school dropouts, insecurity in the community, street children, family abandonment…
Children who attended the campaign said they would choose to leave their families with conflict and live in the exemplary one (played in the sketch).
During these campaigns, some men testified that the event made them reflect on their attitudes and they decide to adopt new ones so their families can develop and live in harmony.
Moreover, the Police Officer reiterated to the audience to promote equalities in their families because national security starts at the household level. Inequalities lead to violence in households and insecurity at the community level.
In addition, during these campaigns 58 couples have officialized their union after the community awareness sessions led by Change agents and local leaders.