Girls’ Power Initiative (GPI) Calabar Centre organized the Community Partnership Group on Girls Empowerment (CPGGE) annual workshop on Wednesday 25th October 2017 at GPI Calabar conference hall.
Community Partnership Group on Girls’ Empowerment (CPGGE) workshop was an outcome of the scan assessment conducted by the Girls’ Power Initiative (GPI) Nigeria, Calabar Center in 2014. It was targeted at gender sensitization and strengthening the capacity of individuals from communities where GPI has had interventions towards reducing gender discrimination.
Theme of the workshop: Strengthening Community Response Towards Ending Violence Against Girls and Women
The objectives of the workshop were to assist participants:
- Share information on prevailing SRHR challenges in their communities.
- Consolidate action plans towards reducing these challenges.
- Discuss and build synergy among and within community stakeholders to advocate for the implementation of gender friendly actions and policies in their communities and Cross River State at large.
33 (15 male and 18 women) members from the communities identified (Atan Okoyong in Odukpani L.G.A., Anyanganse in Akpabuyo L.G.A., Aningeje in Akamkpa L.G.A. and Mbarakom – Creek Town in Odukpani L.G.A.) attended the workshop and shared the challenges and experiences in their communities.
The activities for the workshop included an overview of identified issues,validation, experience sharing, sessions on legal documents/policies in Cross River State against gender based violence, teamwork, grassroots advocacy, group discussion and action plan development.
The participants identified the following issues: Unemployment, Teenage pregnancy, Unsafe abortion, Lack of sexuality education, Child abuse, Sexual abuse, Lack of family planning, Wife-battery, Child abandonment, Drug abuse, High rate of misconceptions on girls education, Female genital mutilation, etc. They also proposed solutions to the identified needs.
This activity was funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands.