Ending gender-based violence: Organisation targets adolescents, youths

In the heart of Kwale County, a community-based organisation has been at the forefront of the fight against gender-based violence (GBV), using education and empowerment to bring change.

Through their tailored programmes, Samba Sports Youth Agenda focus on raising awareness about GBV among girls, and boys.

The programmes particularly target adolescents and youths.

With a special emphasis on understanding and preventing sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), this organisation is helping to equip the future generation with the knowledge and skills needed to protect themselves and their peers from abuse.

One of the most impactful programmes run by the organisation is Shared Future, a unique initiative where young people--both boys and girls--are brought together to engage in open discussions, training, and awareness campaigns on the dangers of GBV.

“Our aim is to involve all the groups affected by GBV, which include women, girls, and boys. We focus on creating awareness and making sure that they understand the different forms of abuse they might face and how to respond,” explains Abigael Ndizi Community Coordinator and SRHR facilitator at Samba Sports Youth Agenda.

The organisation’s focus on adolescents is not just a strategy but a necessity.

“Many cases of sexual and gender-based violence in Kwale County involve young people,” says Ms Ndizi.

Adding that unfortunately, most of them are unaware that they are being abused.

Ms Ndizi explained that even those who are aware don’t always know where to report the abuse or how to seek help.

This gap in awareness, especially among young people, has made them a particularly vulnerable group.

Chairperson of the Court Users Committee (CUC) and a Magistrate at Msambweni Law Court Leah Kabaria had earlier said that in the past two(2) years, more than 150 cases of child defilement have been registered in Kwale.

Out of these, 67 were reported in 2024 alone, which shows a disturbing trend. On average, six(6) children are defiled every month.

Ms Kabaria’s statement underscores the urgency of educating young people about GBV, as the rise in cases signals an increase in abuse within the county.

The mission of Samba Sports Youth Agenda is clear--to inspire positive behaviour among the youth and create a future where GBV is no longer a threat.

“If we start with young people, we are hopeful that the future generation will be free from the cycle of abuse.The earlier we educate them, the better. If they learn to recognize GBV, they can grow up to live in a world where abuse is no longer normalized," Ms Ndizi said.

Much of the abuse in Kwale occurs in schools and homes. While there is a common focus on external perpetrators like boda boda riders, the reality is more complex.

According to Abigael, a significant percentage of abuse is perpetrated by people who are supposed to be trusted figures,teachers, relatives, and even family members.

She explains that this often makes it harder for victims to come forward and report the abuse due to the relationships involved.

The organisation’s programmes also aim to address these cultural and familial dynamics that enable abuse to persist.

Ms Ndizi recalls one distressing incident where a young girl confided in them about inappropriate advances from her grandfather.

“The girl told us that her grandfather had been touching her inappropriately because she was named after her grandmother,” Ms Ndizi says. 

“In their culture, he believed that because she shared her grandmother's name, he had the right to treat her as his wife.”

Such deeply ingrained cultural beliefs make it even more difficult for young victims to speak out.

To combat this, the organization encourages the youth to report any form of abuse, regardless of the relationship with the perpetrator.

They also teach the importance of knowing where to report such incidents.

“We don’t entertain negative cultural practices.Our goal is to create an environment where the victims can always report abuse and be taken seriously, no matter who the perpetrator is,” Ms Ndizi says.

The challenge of providing comprehensive sexual education is another hurdle the organisation faces.

While it is a crucial aspect of their work, such education is not widely available in schools, especially in rural areas.

“We lack enough materials on comprehensive sex education,” she admits.

Adding that Sexual education is not thoroughly covered in schools, and that gap makes it difficult for young people to understand their rights and what constitutes abuse.

The organization strives to fill this gap by offering peer-to-peer education and using personal stories to make the information relatable and accessible to their audience.

To ensure that the information is culturally sensitive and age-appropriate, they employ a variety of learning methods.

“We use experiential learning to teach life skills, which has proven to be effective,” she says.

“For instance, we incorporate role-play, discussions, and personal experiences to ensure the young people fully understand the topics.”

Through these methods, the organization ensures that the message about GBV is not only heard but also deeply understood.

The Founder of Samba Sports Youth Agenda Mohammed Mwachausa believes that their approach of targeting adolescents is key to changing the future.

“We include GBV education in our programmes because it is crucial to address this issue at its roots,” Mr Mwachausa explains.

He added that adolescence is a critical stage in human development, and if young people are not guided well, they can be easily led down a path of harmful behaviors.

"By helping them understand their rights and responsibilities, we can make a lasting impact," he told AVDelta News.

The organisation has already seen positive outcomes. Many youths who have undergone the training now report cases of abuse to the relevant authorities, and some have even taken up advocacy roles within their communities.

Mr Mwachausa is optimistic about the future.

“We are equipping these young people with the skills they need to be independent and make positive decisions in their lives.As they grow up, they will carry these lessons with them and contribute to building a society free from gender-based violence,” he says.