The Centre for Alternatives for Victimized Women and Children (CAVWOC) on Monday said sports is one of the best ways of fighting school based Gender Based Violence.
CAVWOC’s Field Officer Rightwell Nyirenda made the remarks during a final showdown of the CAVWOC primary schools trophies held at Khongoloni Community Day Secondary School ground.
According to Nyirenda through the football and netball trophies that have been running for the past two months, the organization has managed to reach over 7,000 school going youths with messages aimed at arresting gender based violence in schools as well as empowering girls in standing against violence directed at them.
“When we came to Phalombe particularly at T/A Jenala to start implementing a project called a safe education, the levels of school based sexual violence were high and this was leading to many girls dropping out of school before reaching standard 8,” said the Field Officer.
Since the year 2016 CAVWOC has been implementing the three-year-long project aimed at combating sexual Gender Based Violence for girls and vulnerable students in primary schools in order for them to be able to attain education.
Speaking during the finals, Primary Education Advisor for Khongoloni zone, Abdul Gama appreciated the organization’s efforts in combating sexual violence in schools which he said had led to the re-enrolment of many girls who dropped out of school due to sexual violence.
Gama concurred with Nyirenda in highlighting that apart from being an entertaining pastime, sporting was a best way of bringing many people together in order to preach to them about GBV.
“Through the tourney, CAVWOC and the Education department have managed to glue learners from 16 schools to sports activities that took place every weekend while also imparting them with the messages necessary in ending gender based violence,” said Gama.
Among other things schools participating in the tourney were given jerseys scribed with messages bemoaning sexual violence in schools.
During the finals of the K125 000 competition, Dzanjo Primary School emerged champions after beating Miyanga by 3 goals to 1 in football, while in netball Mileme Primary School defeated Bona by 5 baskets to 4 to become champions.
