Location: Kismayo and surrounding areas

Beneficiaries: Women, girls, caregivers, youth leaders, and community members

Overview
The CHANGES Project aims to foster inclusive communities that uphold gender equality and empower women and girls. The project focuses on shifting harmful gender norms and strengthening family and community support networks through participatory engagements and advocacy efforts.

Key Achievements

1. Enhanced family dynamics through gender-sensitive parenting training for caregivers.
2. Strengthened youth engagement in gender equality advocacy through the establishment of youth-led groups.
3. Improved community awareness of harmful cultural practices and their effects on women and girls.
4. Strengthened partnerships with religious leaders to incorporate gender justice messaging in community forums.
5. Provided financial support to women-led households to promote economic independence.
6. Launched multimedia campaigns to increase community awareness of gender equality issues.
7. Supported schools to integrate gender equality content into their educational programs.
8. Established safe spaces for women and girls to access psychosocial support.
9. Distributed information materials on legal rights and services available to survivors of violence.

Contributed to local advocacy efforts that influenced positive policy changes regarding women’s participation in leadership.