Letter to the Editor | Combatting gender-based violence

Writer: Mike Weekes (retired social worker)

Much media attention is currently being focused on gender-based violence (GBV). It may be of interest to readers of The Village NEWS to learn of a programme successfully used in other countries in Africa.

Much emotion surrounds the subject, which is multifaceted. The value of this programme is its objectivity in that it is a time-limited, goal-directed and structured approach.

This educational programme was created and developed in Uganda and has been researched and adapted for use in South Africa by the SA Medical Research Council.

The programme is known in SA as ‘Stepping Stones’. Its primary goal is the empowerment of women by providing them with new knowledge and the means to develop new skills and attitudes. Men are encouraged to participate.

Click below to read more. (The full article can be found on page 9)