11/10/2025
🌍 Empowering Communities, Protecting Girls’ Futures 🌸
RHAISA, with funding from the Direct Aid Program （DAP） under the Australian High Commission in Pretoria, implemented an innovative project aimed at preventing gender-based violence （GBV） in schools.
Through a creative blend of life skills education and women’s football, the project promoted positive behavioural change, delayed teenage marriage and pregnancy, and strengthened community accountability in protecting girls’ rights and education.
📍 Implemented in Mphaki （Quthing District） and selected areas of Leribe District, the initiative engaged herdboys, school authorities, parents, policy makers, and community leaders, encouraging everyone to take part in ending GBV.
✨ Key Achievements
✅ Increased SRHR Knowledge: Adolescents and young women gained a vital understanding of sexual and reproductive health rights, gender equality, and inheritance laws through awareness campaigns and translated materials.
✅ Empowered Girls: Football-based empowerment sessions to build girls’ confidence, teamwork, and leadership, helping them speak out and stand up against GBV.
✅ Strengthened School Prevention Mechanisms: Teachers and parents became proactive in identifying and reporting GBV cases, leading to the disclosure of hidden incidents, including forced marriages by herdboys, and stronger coordination with protection structures.
In the evenings, herdboys attended Human Rights and SRHR sessions, learning that respecting and protecting girls’ rights strengthens the entire community.
💡 Lessons Learned and Areas Requiring More Support
1️⃣ Continuous Engagement with Herdboys:
While awareness improved, deep-rooted cultural beliefs around forced marriage and gender roles persist. Sustained mentorship and community rehabilitation programs are essential for lasting change.
2️⃣ Strengthening Parental and Community Involvement:
Parents and community leaders shape social norms. Structured dialogues and parental training are needed to reinforce accountability and positive attitudes toward ending GBV.
3️⃣ Expanding Psychosocial Support in Schools:
The disclosure of hidden GBV cases revealed a need for accessible psychosocial care and referral systems to support survivors emotionally and legally.
4️⃣ Enhancing Coordination with Local Authorities:
Partnerships with chiefs, police, and education officers are vital for enforcing child protection laws and ensuring consistent community response.
5️⃣ Sustained Funding and Scalability:
To maintain progress and expand the impact, continued investment and replication of the model across other districts is key.
Together, we are building safer schools, stronger communities, and brighter futures for every girl. 💪🏽📚⚽
