KWAKHA INDVODZA #ME4U GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE CAMPAIGN

Mbabane – Kwakha Indvodza over the years has contributed to awareness raising messaging. 

Through a youth focused initiative, the organisation has provided various grassroots platforms on which local artists can raise awareness on GBV issues and its devastating effect on women and girls and the country at large. 

In previous years, fashion, film, visual arts, theatre, music and spoken word poetry were used to create advocacy platforms to promote messages of non-violence and peaceful relationships, encouraging the youth to join and unite against gender-based violence.

This year Kwakha Indvodza has continued to use a unique approach in engaging the youth of Eswatini on GBV issues through online platforms.

 In collaboration with the American Bar Association, the US State department and Women and Girls Empowered, the organisation launched the #Me4U Youth Zone Chats. 

Personalities

These chats are aired live on Kwakha Indvodza’s Facebook Channel using some of Eswatini youth’s favourite personalities. Previous chats had guests such as Mdura, Cheeks, Melusi Mdzebele (A-Z Fusion duo member) and Linda Nkosi.  

In August, the organisation used the Facebook #Me4U Youth Zone chats to engage with men about gender-based violence and its effect on society, discussing how men can get involved in the reduction of gender-based violence in the country. 

In an effort to continue to raise awareness and put an end to gender- based violence, the organisation has, through the #Me4U campaign, used masks to convey the message on eradicating and putting gender-based violence to a stop.

 The reason for this is that there have been reports of high GBV that seem to have risen due to COVID-19 across southern Africa. The organisation has chosen to use the mask to convey messages that aim to encourage men not to hide behind a mask but speak out and be heard in the fight against GBV. 

Through this campaign, the organisation aims to normalise the idea of men calling each other out and reporting gender-based violence when they see it around them. 

With men being the common perpetrators of gender- based violence, the organisation has decided to engage Eswatini men to carry out this message to encourage emaSwati not hide behind a mask and be there for each other (#Me4U).

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