Lusubilo Community Care, in collaboration with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and relevant government stakeholders, has launched a Community Gender Awareness Campaign in Rumphi, Karonga, and Chitipa Districts to promote positive gender norms, prevent Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and strengthen child protection systems at community level.
The campaign follows a series of Gender Dialogue Sessions conducted in Graduation Model communities, where community members openly discussed gender issues, GBV, and child protection challenges. Key messages, lessons, and commitments that emerged from these dialogues formed the foundation of the awareness campaign, which aims to scale up these discussions and translate them into practical community action.
The campaign was implemented across six Graduation Model catchment areas in the three Districts. By building on commitments identified during the dialogue sessions, the initiative seeks to deepen community understanding of gender equality, non-violent relationships, and child protection. It deliberately engages existing community structures to promote ownership, sustainability, and long-term impact.
To ensure effective implementation, Lusubilo and its partners worked closely with Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), traditional and religious leaders, SMART Couple facilitators, and other influential community actors. These structures play a critical role in shaping social norms and behaviors, making them key drivers of change in addressing GBV and child abuse within households and communities.
The campaign focuses on several key objectives, including increasing community awareness of GBV, child protection, and gender equality; disseminating commitments agreed upon during the gender dialogue sessions; and challenging harmful social and cultural norms that perpetuate violence and abuse. It also promotes knowledge and use of GBV and child protection referral pathways, while encouraging men, women, and youth to actively support non-violence and positive relationships.
A range of participatory activities was conducted at community level, such as community sensitization meetings, drama and role plays, traditional dances, and the sharing of testimonies and success stories from SMART Couples. These interactive platforms provided opportunities for community members to reflect on real-life experiences, learn from one another, and collectively commit to positive behavior change.
The campaign’s methodology emphasized participation and local ownership, with activities led by community members using local languages to ensure inclusivity and clear understanding. The initiative is also expected to strengthen community commitment and accountability, as well as improve the use of GBV and child protection referral mechanisms.
The campaign targeted a wide range of stakeholders, including men, women, and youth in Graduation Model communities; SMART Couple facilitators, traditional and religious leaders, CBOs, Village Development Committees (VDCs), women and disability representatives, Child Protection Workers (CPWs), Community Development Assistants (CDAs), head teachers, health workers, women forums, community police, police officers and youth representatives.
Through this Community Gender Awareness Campaign, Lusubilo Community Care and its partners reaffirm their commitment to building safer, more inclusive, and resilient communities where women, men, and children can live free from violence and reach their full potential.