Common Challenges

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In many social contexts, gender-based violence is not talked about openly, it is taboo to have girls playing sport and girls are perceived as unworthy of their human rights. Those who choose to address GBV through sport programmes all have stories of trials. Below are some of the more common issues and ideas from partners of successful ways to address these issues.  

Caregivers Dont See Value

Challenge: Caregivers don’t see the value in sport and/or don’t believe it is in their interest to empower their daughters to access their rights Solution: Arrange a caregivers...

Community Respect

Challenge: Sport programme and/or leadership will lose (or not establish) community respect by combating gender-based violence Solution: Community members need to see how...

Travel

Challenge: Having girls travel to sport programme can make them vulnerable to gender-based violence (harassment, kidnapping, rape) Solution: Identify where girls become...

Education

Challenge: Sport coaches are not educated to teach girls about their rights and/or are ill-prepared to react appropriately when girls report GBV Solution: The skills required...

Communication

Challenge: Caregivers don’t want their girls talking publicly about gender-based violence, especially when it might expose or implicate their family Solution: This is not a...

Survivors

Challenge: Recent survivors of GBV struggle with physical and emotional discomfort of sport participation Solution: Be open and proactive about understanding that physical and...

Differing Backgrounds

Challenge: Sport participants from differing backgrounds can have vastly different understanding of violence and gender Solution: Prior to implementing a GBV curriculum with...

Finding Space To Talk

Challenge: Finding private, uninterrupted space to talk to girls about GBV is difficult Solution: If your programme does not have a room or facility that provides adequate...