By Steve Chirombo

Dedza, March 20, Mana: A total of 30 women volunteers on Wednesday received bicycles from Trocaire to help them address issues of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in three areas of Fosa, Kamenya and Thambolagwa under Senior Chief Kachere in Dedza District.

The women volunteers work under Gender Justice Unit (GJU) to which Trocaire sub granted funds to implement a project dubbed “Empower Safe: A Dedza Community’s Effort to Combat Gender Based Violence through Legal Empowerment.”

Speaking at the handover of the bicycles, Trocaire Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Lead, Thandizo Ngwira, said the donation marks International Women’s Day celebrations, which is globally celebrated on March 8 every year.

“We want to ease mobility challenges which these women pass through when addressing GBV issues in their areas. It is our aim to see equality achieved,” said Ngwira.

She hailed government for putting in place laws and policies in ensuring that women are empowered.

She expressing optimism that the donation will go towards ending GBV, enable volunteers to follow up cases and find it easy to report to relevant authorities.

Ngwira, therefore, urged the volunteers to be responsible for the bicycles while thanking government, partners and the communities for joint efforts in ensuring that women are empowered.

“We happy to see women holding positions; we want to see you in Area Development Committees, Village Development Committees and even elected as councilors or Members of Parliament.

GJU Project Coordinator, Chifundo Chulu, expressed hope that mobile courts will soon start happening in the area.

Both Agness Kachere and Alinafe Videli, volunteers for the project, said the training and knowledge gained have significantly helped in the reduction of GBV cases in their areas.

Dedza District Council Gender and Development Officer, Lisnet Dauya, stated that her office appreciates efforts from partners in ensuring that, apart from understanding GBV, women are empowered.

“As an office we can’t do everything on our own; we rely on partners. I urge women to utilize the knowledge gained to benefit both them and the people they serve,” she said.

However, Dauya, warned the women not to regard the bicycles as a means to assert power over their husbands.

Senior Chief Kachere said the project has transformed lives of most women in his area who are now able to stand up and speak on issues that affect them.

The donation was made possible with financial support from Irish Aid.