Through an inclusive and participatory approach (incubation lab and personal and collective empowerment strategy), which places young girls and boys in Niger at the heart of its activities, the JADES II project aims to challenge the relevant political authorities on gender-based and sexual violence (GBV) in schools. Laouali Moussa Maman Bachir is a second-year medical student. He is 25 years old and lives in the Maradi region. As a young advocacy leader, he participates in the creation and implementation of the project. Here is a look back at a year of commitment, between learning and gaining self-confidence.
What do you like most about the Jades II project? What I like most is the dynamic way in which the work is carried out. This is the first time I have been involved in a project where young people have complete control over the decisions, from setting objectives to choosing activities. During the project incubation workshop, it was the debates and exchanges of ideas between young people that enabled us to choose our cause: the fight against gender-based and sexual violence (GSV) in schools. What I really like about this project is the trust and responsibility that we young people are given to lead this fight, which belongs to us. During this year as a Young Leader for Advocacy, what have you learned? By putting young people at the forefront of the process, I have gained self-esteem and confidence. I learned how to advocate, especially during the project creation workshop. I knew what advocacy was, but now I know how to do it. Also, the training sessions on gender-based and sexual violence changed me a lot. Before, I didn't consider sexist remarks or "jokes" to be violence. Now I understand that this is the first step that leads to more serious violence. Sexist acts, even if they are considered "minor," encourage more serious acts when we don't speak up. I also had a realization, or rather a reversal of consciousness: VSS, whether in primary or secondary school, is very common. This has strengthened my motivation to get involved. What do you expect from the rest of the project in terms of learning? I hope to strengthen my technical and operational skills so that I can take on greater responsibilities in the future, and have the courage and skills to set up and lead my own project to promote sexual and reproductive health among adolescents and young people or to combat SGBV/gender-based violence. I would like this to enable me, in turn, to share my experience and pass on these skills to other young people and encourage them to get involved.
The JADES II project is led by the NGO Solthis (lead partner), Lafia Matassa, and Equipop. To advocate for the fight against gender-based and sexual violence in schools, Laouli and 29 other young advocacy leaders (JLP) will conduct a survey in nine schools over the coming weeks to gather evidence and encourage the authorities to take action.
