Through years of working on projects at the community level, we realize that women and girls are hugely disadvantaged. They have often been marginalized and segregated to the background on so many fronts in society. One of the primary reasons for marginalization is the inequality between men and women in accessing and controlling resources.
Understanding this, South Saharan Social Development Organization, in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria, organized a women’s peer education training in Igga community, Uzo Uwani LGA. The program seeks to foster women’s empowerment through peer education. This initiative aims to advocate for women’s rights and bridge women’s capacity deficiency at the community level.
The three-day training was facilitated by the project lead, Priye West, and SSDO’s Gender Officer, Blessing Uchendu. The training was executed using the Women Peer Education Resource Kit.
During the training sessions, the women expressed how low self-esteem had previously affected their engagement in community activities. They also discussed issues that impacted their emotional well-being within their marriages, such as husbands using harsh words and taking their earnings. They were taught by the team how to identify opportunities provided by the government and how to position themselves to be beneficiaries.
Education and skill acquisition were discussed, with many young girls expressing concerns about their parents’ reluctance to send them to school, leading to early marriages within the community. This issue was recognized as critical and in need of addressing during advocacy meetings.
The concept of managing post-harvest losses was explained, although many participants lacked the necessary capital to expand their businesses. Climate change issues were addressed, focusing on harmful environmental practices that needed to be rectified. The participants were encouraged to promote inclusivity and support disabled individuals in the community, despite their community having few disabled persons.
The training also covered essential areas such as personal development, health, livelihood and survival, and inclusion. The women were taught the importance of body image, self-esteem, time management, hygiene, skill acquisition, and the dangers of gender-based violence. After the training, the group elected a President.
