Stakeholders in the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa and Niger, have commended Tabitha Cumi Foundation (TCF) for its determined efforts at ending Gender Based Violence (GBV) and support to survivors.
The stakeholders include communities and beneficiaries of TCF’s goodwill in the two states and the FCT.
They made the commendation at a three-day learning activity for beneficiaries and other key stakeholders of the Flashlight Actions on Girls Safety (FLAGS) project on Monday in Abuja.
The FLAGS project is funded by the UN Trust Fund to end all forms of violence, enhance learning in safe spaces for survivors and ensure community involvement in the fight against GBV.
A traditional leader representing the Masaka Community in Nasarawa, John Gara, noted the reduction in cases of GBV in the area since the commencement of sensitisation, support and advocacies by TCF.
Garage said: “This was unlike other programmes that come and make no impact.
“The TCF has made an enormous impact in the community, especially the girl-child and even the boys were affected positively.
“GBV has reduced drastically in Masaka unlike in the past that we used to have lots of cases due to the support of TCF.”
A beneficiary, who trains young girls in the Durumi Community, Gift Emmanuel, said the project had enabled her to educate young girls about GBV, how to respond to it, and preventive and referral pathways in their safe spaces.
“The programme has made me to know alot of things I really did not know beyond the GBV and how to come out of it.
“I thought perpetrators can go unpunished, but now I know better.
”This project has been impactful in the last three years not just in my life, but also in the lives of my co-beneficiaries.
“Some of them were unable to speak out and were timid, aside the GBV or sexual abuse and physical abuse in the home.
“Alot of girls don’t even know that their parents could be a perpetrator and be the one abusing them either physically, emotionally or otherwise.
“So for the past three years, I can boldly say that the girls come to tell us what they have been going through, how the project has helped them and even their parents,” she said.
Similarly, a 16-year-old beneficiary of the projects in the Kugbo community, Mary-Peace Sunday, said she acquired more knowledge on ways to prevent GBV, where to seek help and also sensitise young girls on their rights and issues around violence.
“Through this project, I have learnt how to read and write about GBV, I know about safe spaces, perpetrators, survivors.
”My friends in school going through various forms of violence, I have taught them and even assisted a friend, who was raped and is undergoing counseling and other supports from the Amintacces in TCF.
A member of the Community Action Committee (CAC) in Mpape, Mrs Aisha Saidu said: ” Many people have benefitted from TCF.
“And as a member of the CAC, we have the responsibility of keeping our community safe from GBV.”
The Executive Director, of TCF, Mrs Tayo Erinle said they had been able to reach and support over 40,000 in FCT, Nasarawa and Niger states.
Erinle, represented by the Director of Finance, TCF, Mr Adejumobi Fashola added that about 25 young girls had been granted scholarships and enrolled back to school to further their education.
“In the last three years, we reached over 40,000 persons in Nasarawa, Niger and the FCT with about 121 GBV cases.
“There is still a lot to do, we need more gentlemen in this fight and members of the CAC.
“We are here to brainstorm, reflect and think of new solutions on the way forward,” she said.
The Project Manager, TCF, Mrs Nendirmwa Ohah said: ” The FLASH has been implemented in the last three years, which started in 2021 and will end in May.
”It was implemented in 10 communities in the FCT, Nasarawa and Niger and we worked with 750 beneficiaries, in which some of them are survivors of GBV and all are out of school girls.
“We have also been able to reach out to 40,000 persons in our communities of practice providing information on GBV prevention and response.
“And also creating awareness on the Violence Against Person Prohibition (VAPP) Act Child Rights Act.
“We have also supported survivors of GBV access services that would support them, increase their well-being and reintegrate them back to the society,” she said.
By Justina Auta
