NGO Train Teachers as Gender Based Violence Counselors

A Non-Governmental Organization known as Society For Life Changers and Good Parental Care (SoLife), has trained Teachers as Gender Based Violence Counselors for Schools for Special Needs in Osun state.  The three days Training programme towards Empowering and Eliminating Violence Against Women and Girls with Disabilities in the State held at the Conference Hall of Omilas Continental Hotel, Osogbo. 

 The Chairman BOT, Mr Stephen Aremu Akinyele in his address maintained that the project is not the norm of business as usual, that the Trained Gender Based Violence Teachers/Counselors are expected to be dedicated and available always for this set of Children with Disabilities in Schools for the Handicap in Osun. 

Akinyele emphasized that research shows that stakeholders are not doing enough for Women and Girls with Disabilities, but God remembers them through the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (UN Trust Fund) and United Nations Entity for Gender and the Empowerment of Women (“UN WOMEN”) in collaboration with Society For Life Changers and Good Parental Care (SoLife), for selected local governments in Osun and Kwara state. He added that though the project term with the sponsors is three years, that the Society For Life Changers and Good Parental Care is adding another five years to make a total of eight years for the monitored Gender Based Violence program whose ultimate goal is to witness the approval and passage of the Person with Disabilities Bill in the state, through the Government and the House of Assembly. Speaking further, the SoLife BOT Chairman said some selected Girls with Disabilities from Special Needs Schools in Osun had earlier been trained as Champions, he added that the trained Counselors are to guide them academically, mentally, and to be their confidant as Counselors on any issue affecting them, or the one that needs attention, while they are also obligated to give feedback to SoLife for necessary intervention for the project which will be evaluated. The Teachers were trained in creating enabling environment for the Children with Disabilities, what the EMPOWER Project entails, Group work on Evaluation of Gender Based Violence against Persons with Disabilities and knowledge on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health. Other training focus at the program was Approach to Gender Based Violence and its Signs, Communication with Students with Disabilities, Knowing the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and how to help them, Gender Based Violence tools as well as Enlightenment on the Role of Law Enforcement Agencies in tackling Gender Based Violence among others. The trained Teachers were issued Certificate of Participation by the Society For Life Changers and Good Parental Care (SoLife) as Counselors on Gender Based Violence for the Students (Children) with Disabilities in Osun Special Needs Schools.