Combating Harmful Traditional Practices and Empowering Adolescent Girls in the Dire Dawa Region
Project Overview
Supported by UAF Africa’s IGNITE program, this project combats gender-based violence (GBV), with a particular focus on harmful traditional practices (HTPs) such as female genital mutilation and early marriage in the Dire Dawa region. It aims to improve educational access, safety, and outcomes for adolescent girls by building protective environments both in schools and across their communities. Through gender clubs, stakeholder collaboration, and dormitory support, the project empowers girls to stay in school, speak up, and shape a future free from violence and discrimination.
Objectives
- Integrate gender equality, life skills, and HTP awareness into education through sustainable, student-led gender clubs in both public and private schools.
- Strengthen collaboration among key stakeholders—schools, education authorities, law enforcement, health centers, and community leaders—to create a protective environment around adolescent girls.
- Enhance the capacity of existing government dormitories that support vulnerable girls, ensuring they stay in school and are shielded from early marriage and other harmful practices.
Target Audience
The project directly targets adolescent girls, adolescent boys, community members, and local authority members. Indirect it targets teachers, community leaders, families, and service providers.
Approach
- Implementing gender clubs in both government and non-government schools, using interactive learning, crafts-based income generation, and male allyship to engage youth meaningfully.
- Capacity-building for female teachers to ensure club sustainability.
- Fostering collaboration between schools, local authorities, and community service providers through awareness events and advocacy forums.
- Strengthening the government-run dormitory for vulnerable girls by providing training, essential materials, and a peer tutoring system—ensuring girls have a safe and empowering space to thrive academically.
Expected outcome
- Increased school attendance and retention among girls,
- Reduced prevalence of HTPs, greater community awareness of gender equality,
- Stronger systems for the protection and empowerment of adolescent girls.
The project ultimately aims to equip girls to become leaders and changemakers within their communities.
Timeline
June 2024 – February 2026 (20 months)
Call to Action
Volunteer to tutor at the girls’ dormitory, or donate books about strong, inspiring women to motivate and empower the next generation. Support the movement by raising awareness about HTPs and GBV in your community. Engage boys in the dialogue and encourage them to become vocal advocates. Help amplify our message by promoting our campaigns on social media.
Donor
UAF Africa – IGNITE Program
Target Area
Dire Dawa Region