WECTIN Trains Community Volunteers On Gender-Based Violence

Welfare for Children and Teenagers Initiative (WECTIN), in collaboration with the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), on Monday, 29th September 2025, organized a sensitization training for community volunteers on their role in preventing and responding to gender-based violence (GBV).

Speaking at the event, WECTIN’s Program Manager, Mrs. Toyosi Ajayi, charged the volunteers to take up the mantle of combating and preventing GBV within their communities.

She emphasized that the sustainability of the fight against GBV depends largely on community members after the conclusion of external projects.

Mrs. Ajayi explained that GBV affects both males and females differently, often leaving psychological scars that influence how survivors relate with others in the future.

She cautioned that violence at home usually starts subtly, with pushes, before escalating into slaps and eventually developing into severe forms of abuse, sometimes leading to death, suicide, emotional breakdown, or low self-esteem.

In her presentation, WECTIN’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Fatima Abdulwasiu, underscored the importance of proper case referral. She urged the volunteers to ensure survivors and reported cases are directed to appropriate authorities and specialized support centers equipped to provide assistance.

Fatima further highlighted the role of economic empowerment in reducing GBV, noting that women who are financially independent are better positioned to make decisions and break free from abusive environments.

The training ended with participants expressing their commitment to serve as active advocates, protectors, and first responders against GBV within their communities.