Réseau Culturel Sangwa implements integrated programs in Gender Equality and Sexual & Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) prevention. The same groups of beneficiaries, teen and young mothers, school clubs, community members, men and boys, couples, and youth associations participated in both types of interventions.
Because these projects were implemented simultaneously and addressed complementary issues (empowerment, leadership, positive masculinities, SGBV prevention, and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), many achievements naturally overlap across the two thematic areas.
For this reason, some results appear under both the Gender Equality and SGBV sections, reflecting their interconnected nature and the holistic approach used by Réseau Culturel Sangwa to strengthen families and communities.
In this domain, Réseau Culturel Sangwa implemented two projects which are:
Reduction of domestic violence against women and children in Rwamagana District, Eastern Province, in 2019;
Empowering girls and young women through breaking cultural norms and socio-economic barriers for equal representation in Gatsibo District, Eastern Province in 2019 up to 2020.
Réseau Culturel Sangwa contributed to the increment of women leadership for resilience and self-confidence. In addition to that, it contributed to the mobilizing and sensitizing men, women and youth on improving/restoring family dialogues for pacific cohabitation at household level and in the community, to ensure sustainable development.
All projects in regards to these themes targeted the following beneficiaries in the area of Reseau Culturel Sangwa interventions :
270 couples from the community,
508 people including 207 males and 301 females of school’s club members’,
191 youth including 48 males and 143 females and 85 adults including 34 males and 51 females of out of school’s club members,
8814 adults’ people from the community including: 1664 males under 18 years and 2207 males over 18 years; 2152 females under 18 years and 2791 females over 18 years.
24 males and 56 females from cooperative members’.
The following results have been registered:
Supported teen mothers to return to school and access their rights after experiencing sexual violence.
100% of targeted teen and young mothers reported increased freedom to speak about their experiences and share testimonies on sexual and domestic violence.
100% were fully reintegrated into their families and allowed to participate in community activities without stigma.
73% of targeted single mothers gained autonomy and contributed to family needs, improving resilience after violence.
Community volunteers were trained and became agents of change for SGBV prevention and response in all intervention districts.
Ubumwe bw’Umuryango cultural troop actively uses theatre, dance and poetry to fight SGBV in the community.
Ishema Rwikiniro youth group raises awareness on SGBV through comedy shows and community mobilization.
Youth Ambassadors strengthened exchanges on SRHR, leadership and SGBV prevention across rural and urban areas.
Survivors and couples shared testimonies demonstrating change in attitudes and practices related to SGBV.
