An assessment of the Young Women Christian Association anti-gender based violence educational programme of Kitwe District, Zambia

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Date
2015
Authors
Makunka, Kunda Ethel
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Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
This study was undertaken to assess the Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) anti- gender based violence educational program at the Kitwe center. This study was necessitated by the alarming statistics of gender based violence cases (GBV). The Zambia police annual crime returns show an increment in Gender violence cases. In 2007, about 5127 cases were reported whereas 8467 cases were reported in 2010. The objectives of the study were; to determine the characteristics of the clients; to determine the adequacy of the program qualitatively and quantitatively in addressing gender based violence; to investigate the appropriateness of the instructional tools and techniques used in the Young Women Christian Association anti–gender based violence program and to examine if the Young Women Christian Association education program is responding to the needs of the clients. The objectives of the study were; to determine the characteristics of the clients; to determine the adequacy of the program qualitatively and quantitatively in addressing gender based violence; to investigate the appropriateness of the instructional tools and techniques used in the Young Women Christian Association anti–gender based violence program and to examine if the Young Women Christian Association education program was responding to the needs of the clients. The study employed a case study design in order to do an in-depth study. The study comprised 73 respondents. Out of these 70 were Young Women Christian Association clients, 2 Young Women Christian Association psychosocial counselors and 1 Young Women Christian Association coordinator. Data was collected using researcher administered questionnaires, observation and face to face semi structured interviews. With regard to the characteristics of the clients this study established that 83% of the clients were married women and were aged between 26 to35 years old; 56% of the clients lived in high density areas. Most of these areas were in the locations where YWCA carry out its anti-gender based violence sensitization campaigns. The Young Women Christian Association was not running any sensitization campaigns in low and medium density residential areas. With regards to the adequacy of the program the study concluded that the program was inadequate in the sense that it focused so much on counseling leaving out issues of financial assistance, permanent shelter, spiritual counseling and employment after skills training. On busy days of Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at Young Women Christian Association the number of clients ranged between 3-10 per day. About 1900-2700 clients’ visit the center in a year and about 100 clients visit the shelter annually. The study concluded that the number was low in comparison with the statistics of domestic violence obtained from Zambia Police Victim Support unit and considering YWCA coverage area which was vast. With regard to instructional techniques and materials at time of the study the following instructional techniques and materials were used charts, posters, leaflets, visual aids, Education and communication(IEC) materials, press releases group method, client centered method, awareness campaigns and couple counseling. The clients indicated that they had various needs including financial, spiritual, protection and counseling needs. The study established that most clients’ needs were satisfied after seeing a counselor. However they had other needs such as permanent shelter, financial stability which the YWCA program was could not meet. The researcher recommends that YWCA should broaden its coverage area where it holds Gender based violence educational sensitization campaigns; and YWCA should produce most of the materials in local languages which most clients could not read at ease.
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Keywords
Women-violence against-Kitwe, Zambia , Women-Crimes against-Kitwe, Zambia
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