Women Safe House Rehabilitates 20 Victims of Gender-Based Violence in Ibadan
A Non Governmental Organisation, Women Safe House Sustenance Initiative has organised a storytelling event for victims and survivors of gender based violence with a view to setting them on a healing journey from their ugly experiences
The two days conference provided the women the avenue to let out the incidents that led to their agony and the scars it imprinted on them which made it an unforgettable life experience
It’s however heart-warming that the Women Safe House Sustenance Initiative team did not just listened to their stories of abuse but kick started immediate therapeutic process of rehabilitating them.
Women Safe House Sustenance Initiative which powered the 10th edition of fearless, a camping programme with a mission to provide non-judgemental and non-discriminatory protection and response to all women and girls experiencing gender-based violence in Nigeria has in five years rehabilitated 200 women who are victims of sexual domestic violence and still strives to achieve more.
According to the coordinator of FEARLES 10th Edition, Oluwayemisi Emmanuel-Osaro, the powerful storytelling event, drew it’s participants through a wide range of advertisement on social media, saying their attendance was based on willingness to camp for two days
Emmanuel-Osaro hinted that the women would benefit from multi-level supports offered by the organisation, while noting that Women Safe House would continue to create equal, safe and non-violent community for women and girls experiencing gender-based violence in Nigeria
Every woman here has actually had an experience with gender-based violence either as a child or as an adult. We have people currently going through that and just need support and we are there to give them. We offer legal support, we offer shelter support for a woman who needs a place to stay. Women Safe House has a shelter, we offer medical support. We also have legal support, we have a team of lawyers who are ready to take the case up for the woman, if she wants. We also have counselling and trauma rehabilitation.”
Assistant Programme Manager, Women Safe House, Omobawumi Ebube-Ayodele, who related her experience with the women, explained that Fearless series would continue to ignite women who are abused in the society urging the female folks not to be quiet in the face of abuse but stay fearless and strong while seeking help, saying being feminine doesn’t mean they’re weak
It’s been a fantastic experience basically, and the fact that I have to come in contact with women on a daily basis, I feel for them, especially those that are going through Gender-Based violence. Beyond counseling, we offer a shelter home where we house the women for a period of time. I must say it’s exhausting but the fact that you’re encouraging women, you’re seeing the impact, it makes me fulfilled.”
