Grieg Gender Challenge
Programme Overview
Grieg Foundation was established in its present form in 2002 and owns 25% of the Grieg Group. The foundation contributes substantial amounts to a wide range of activities. Internationally and in Norway, there is an increasing need to support children and youth. Many of the projects Grieg Foundation supports are in the intersection between youth work and culture work. Other contributions are given towards health and research.
The Grieg Gender Challenge Strategy and Programme Focus
The Grieg Gender Challenge Programme makes investment to achieve three overarching outcomes:
- Strengthen girls access to and benefit from education.
- Increase capability of women and girls to realize their rights, determine their life outcomes, and influence decision-making in households, communities and societies.
- Limit the reproduction of gender inequality across generation.
Grieg Gender Programme in Eswatini
SOS Children’s villages Eswatini witnessed the initiation of the Grieg Gender Programme in the beginning of 2017, which is a three (3) pilot project. The Mahwalala community under Mbabane Programme was identified for the implementation, this was due to the gender gaps that exist in the community.
In 2017, an assessment was conducted in the community to identify the gender gaps that exist through engaging an external consultant. The assessment report led to the development of a Gender Training Manual which will be used as a training tool in addressing gender issues.
For 2018 the plan is to work to achieve the following outputs:
- Caregivers able to provide materials and support educate girls.
- Decreased incidences of teenage pregnancy.
- Increased security for girls on their journey to, at and from school.
- Changed community attitudes towards importance of educating the girl child.
- Improved sanitation in schools
- Decrease the prevalence of drug intake
Caregivers able to provide materials and support educate girls
Train career guidance or life skills teachers to come back to impart knowledge to pupils, monitor behaviour to do referrals to SOS and partnering organization
Will also conduct similar training for CBOs
Decrease incidences of teenage pregnancy
Conduct SRH education in schools (even target sport events where children come in large numbers and sees that as an opportunity for sexual activities like athletes and ball games).
Distribute IEC materials to students to set as reference.
Request school to report to the organization or task team which is a CBO incidences of pregnancy to make follow ups and provide psychological support and facilitate re-entry.
Increased security for girls on their journey to, at and from school
Engage traffic police to teach pupils on crossing roads safely (yearly peer assistance with stop signs and traffic jackets to stop motorist and give crossing students a chance). Cases of Hermman Gmeiner Primary and High School, Qedusizi primary at the T-junction and Nkwalini primary school at the traffic Circle and also facilitate the enactment of road humps at the Mahwalala traffic circle together with the school authority and Zone leaders.
Engage the police service to advice on issues of safety in each school in all its dimensions and also equip teachers and pupils with reporting procedures.
Train teachers on safety facilitated by the police service.
Changed community attitudes towards importance of educating the girl child
We strongly believe that educating the girl child has a major impact in the society, that is why we work to ensure their continuity with their education.
Come up with strategies together with teachers to ensure that the girl child remains in school and identify obstacles that lead to drop out, come up with suggestive solutions to the obstacles.
Enlighten the community that the girl child should be given the same educational opportunities as the boy child when it comes to the right of a child.
Highlight to both academic staff and community the rights of children with strong emphasis on the role or responsibility of the child towards full attainment of their rights.
Improved sanitation in schools
Sanitary wear distribution to ensure that girls do not absent themselves from school during their periods as to not miss out on lessons.
Increase the number of girl’s toilets, because when they use the toilet they have to undress and sit down as opposed to boys who just stand. The matter become worse when they are on periods as they have to take longer changing the sanitary wear to avoid leakage whilst the line awaiting gets long and lead to lateness for the next class
Decrease the prevalence of drug intake by teenagers
Share with teachers the signs of students who are taking drugs and how best they can candle that situation. Also encourage them to make referrals for help.
Visit schools to educate pupils on the dangers of using drugs and distribute IEC materials for reference.
Pitch a stand during sports (athletes and ball games) to remind, counsel and encourage pupils to refrain from drug abuse.
Enlighten the community members on dangers of exposing children to drugs.
Remind alcohol retailers in the community to abide by the laws and regulations that govern their operations.
