As part of an initiative led by Sung Foundation, the “INCLUSIVE JUSTICE FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS” project has made significant strides in addressing child marriage and gender-based violence (GBV) in the Tolon District. Funded by the African Women Development Fund (AWDF), this project has engaged both schools and communities to raise awareness and foster advocacy for the rights of women and girls.

School-Level Activities: “Let Me Be A Child” Clubs

Sung Foundation established the “Let Me Be A Child” Club in 10 schools within the district, where young leaders were equipped with vital public speaking skills and knowledge about child marriage. This initiative, which involved 14 patrons from both genders, empowered students to stand up for their rights, particularly concerning early and forced marriages. Through these clubs, students were taught to be assertive and became advocates within their communities, highlighting the negative effects of child marriage and GBV. Schools involved in this transformative project included Sabegu, Cherifoyili, Tali, Nagbeligu, Wantugu, and five others.

Community-Level Activities: Dialogue and Engagement

On the community level, dialogue sessions were held in 10 project communities, involving a significant number of women, community-based volunteers (CBVs), and Gender Champions. These sessions provided a space for analyzing the causes and impact of gender-based violence, while also strategizing ways to prevent it. During these engagements, participants were reminded of the alarming rates of child marriage in the district and encouraged to take action to stop this harmful practice.

Together, through these collaborative efforts in schools and communities, the project is making great progress toward ending child marriage and gender-based violence in the Tolon District.