NGO Uses Sports to Speak Against GBV
As part of commemorating 16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence, a local NGO based in Mulanje, Othakarhakha Foundation organized a two-day bonanza for football and bawo in Traditional Authority Nkanda.
The finals were held on Saturday at Chambe Primary School ground where Pasani Veterans football club beat Namadidi football club 4-2 while Chambe bawo club won the bawo competition after beating Mwanakhu club in the finals.
Programmes Director for the organization Ted Mwango told Zodiak Online that the community they are working in is not spared by gender-based violence and it is therefore important to speak against the vice in the area.
“We are implementing education, health, agro-forestry, sustainable agriculture and women empowerment projects and this event is part of empowering women," said Mwango.
He said the organization cannot successfully implement any of these projects without addressing GBV which is rampant in the area.
"We decided to use the male dominated sporting disciplines; football and bawo to speak to men on consequences of GBV and no-one can dispute the fact that most perpetrators of GBV are men," said Mwango.
Group Village Headman Kazembe told Zodiak Online that at every meeting he holds in his village he talks about GBV.
Laston Simeon Kamwana said they always talk about family issues when playing bawo.
We have a team of fourteen players and we talk about social, economic, and religious issues when playing bawo. We condemn GBV in its totality and discourage laziness as people associate bawo to idleness and laziness,” said Kamwana.
16 days activism against GBV ended on Saturday, 10th December, 2022 with commemoration of International Human Rights Day.