Sonke Gender Justice has successfully concluded a series of training workshops aimed at empowering partners and strengthening their capacity in various thematic areas of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). These sessions were conducted in Ethiopia, Uganda, and Malawi for MenEngage Africa partners. The training initiative was informed by the pressing need to address gaps in sexual and reproductive health education and services in the region. Recognising the critical role of comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) and access to contraceptives in promoting gender equality and health, the trainings were designed to equip participants with the necessary tools and knowledge to effectively promote CSE and access to contraceptives in their communities, schools, and organisations.
In Uganda and Ethiopia, Sonke engaged participants in meaningful discussions about access to contraceptives. The workshop also explored different methods and their effectiveness and had conversations on understanding the role of advocacy in contraceptive access and applying Gender-Transformative Approaches (GTA). Discussions also focused on how to effectively address cultural norms and stigma, disability inclusion, and improve community-based distribution and youth-friendly services.
In Malawi, the emphasis was on CSE, empowering participants with the skills to facilitate dialogues and mobilise grassroots support. There was a comprehensive exploration of CSE strategies, gender transformative CSE, and CSE delivery including in-depth group learning sessions and fishbowl discussions, providing a platform for participants to share diverse perspectives from their respective communities.
During these workshops, partners shared notable remarks and inspiring stories. In Malawi, participants discussed recent efforts to reform laws surrounding age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education, aiming to integrate it into the national curriculum. They highlighted the problem of referring to sexuality education as “life skills,” which dilutes the focus on critical aspects of sexual and reproductive health. Fishbowl discussions allowed participants to share their perspectives and underscored the need for clear, accurate terminology to ensure comprehensive coverage of these vital topics.
“The training was a very transformative experience as it has empowered us with knowledge and skills on CSE advocacy and service delivery. This will support and enhance our CSE programming at the institutional level and influence at national level during the national CSE review process, said Kenneth Mtago, Executive Director of Young Voices in Malawi.
Group exercises also brought out impactful personal narratives. A participant in Uganda shared her lived experience of being married to a person with a disability. She reflected on how the training made her more aware of the unique challenges faced by people with disabilities (PWD) and inspired her to advocate for their rights even more than she did before. She emphasised how communities can make small but significant changes to help PWD lead fulfilling lives.
These training sessions underscore Sonke’s commitment to ensuring that women, girls, and individuals with diverse sexual orientations and disabilities have access to universal health coverage and improved SRHR services. From understanding CSE principles to exploring gender transformative approaches, participants left the sessions inspired and eager to implement these valuable lessons to foster positive change and establish youth-friendly services.
“The thematic workshop training for Uganda which focused on Access to contraceptives, built a comprehensive understanding of Gender Transformative Approaches among MenEngage Uganda partners, and how to engage men and boys to create a conducive environment that promotes access and utilisation of contraceptive by girls, young people and women to promote SRHR and reduce gender inequalities, but also provided technical support in Transformative masculinities”, shared Luke Twesigye, Country Coordinator of MenEngage Uganda.
