One hundred and sixty people have graduated as Gender Champions for their congregations, following Grace & Light’s most recent sexual and gender-based violence training for local congregations.

They are now training members in eight Jos churches – COCIN Tanchol, COCIN Brightway, COCIN Rukuba Road, ECWA Taraya, COCIN Takum, COCIN Kabong, COCIN Bassa and COCIN Lyoh Gyel.

“Gender Champion training includes many different interactive activities to help participants understand, open up and share with each other,” said Tassie Ghata, international coordinator. “We knew some would be victims as research shows almost 30 per cent of Nigerian women have experienced physical violence by the time they are 15.”

Champions are leading small groups of people in their churches, up to eight of the same sex, helping them to see gender equality from the perspective of scripture and to change their own behaviours so they are respectful of themselves and others.

They are using Grace & Light’s six-week Transforming Masculinities programme with their groups. The programme looks at gender and creation, Jesus as a role model for masculinity, root causes and consequences of sexual abuse, and sexual and gender-based violence in scripture.

Our SGBV work began when Tassie and operations manager Pofi Josiah attended Tearfund’s five-day SGBV training for leaders back in February 2018. That March Tassie delivered the programme over three days for members of the Jos volunteer team. The team has been including elements in church visits and schools’ ministry ever since.

Prayer Requests

Please pray for:

• Wisdom for Gender Champions as they support their group members in managing sexual and gender abuse issues
• Church leaders as they support their gender champions, ensuring the respect of congregation members not involved in the programme.