SHADE-SL Talking Drum

Report - Launch of Project to Combat Violence Against Women and Girls in Kambia District

PROJECT ACTIVITY REPORT

1. Executive Summary

On June 2, 2026, Self Help and Development Everywhere (SHADE) Kambia officially launched a one-year project titled “Strengthening Community Protection and Capacity to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls in Kambia District.” Funded by Bread for the World – Civil Peace Service, the project spans from 2026 to 2027. An inception meeting was hosted at the SHADE Conference Hall in Kambia to introduce the project’s core objectives, target areas, and implementation strategy to key district stakeholders.

2. Activity Overview

  • Activity Name: Project Inception and Stakeholder Engagement Meeting

  • Project Title: Strengthening Community Protection and Capacity to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls in Kambia District

  • Implementing Organization: Self Help and Development Everywhere (SHADE) Kambia

  • Funding Partner: Bread for the World – Civil Peace Service

  • Date: June 3, 2026

  • Venue: SHADE Conference Hall, Kambia District

  • Project Duration: 2026 – 2027 (1 Year)

3. Participants & Stakeholders

The meeting successfully brought together a diverse group of stakeholders committed to community protection, including:

  • Local Authorities (Paramount Chiefs and traditional leaders)

  • Religious Leaders

  • Government Ministries and Institutions

  • Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)

  • Healthcare Workers

  • Youth Group Representatives

  • Media Personnel (Representatives from three local media houses)

4. Key Proceedings & Presentations

Opening and Strategic Vision

Madam Christiana Y. Kanu, the Director of SHADE, welcomed participants and outlined the project’s vision. She emphasized that the initiative will actively amplify the voices of women and girl survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV). Madam Kanu highlighted that the project intends to challenge deep-rooted, harmful cultural norms through advocacy platforms and leadership building, and she strongly urged all stakeholders to take ownership of the initiative.

Project Scope and Implementation Strategy

The Project Coordinator, Mr. Ibrahim Sillah, detailed the operational logistics and core pillars of the project:

  • Geographical Coverage: The implementation will target three specific chiefdoms: Gbinleh, Dixion, and Magbema.

  • Key Focus Areas:

    • Empowering youth (young men and women) to advocate for their rights non-violently.

    • Promoting transparent management of community resources, with a specific focus on land access.

    • Strengthening religious and intercultural tolerance across communities.

Donor Partner Remarks

Madam Adenkie Cole, the National Coordinator of Bread for the World Civil Peace Service, expressed solidarity with SHADE. She noted that the partnership aims to elevate awareness surrounding the vulnerabilities faced by women, adolescent girls, persons with disabilities, and men within their domestic and wider communal spaces. She called for unconditional stakeholder cooperation to guarantee the project’s ultimate success.

5. Target Beneficiaries

The project will explicitly support and engage:

  • Women and adolescent girls (with an emphasis on SGBV survivors)

  • Women and persons living with disabilities

  • Local youth groups

  • Healthcare workers and community leaders

6. Outcomes & Stakeholder Commitments

  • Open Dialogue on SGBV: Representatives from the three target chiefdoms, line ministries, and health workers engaged in a robust interactive session, unpacking local bottlenecks regarding safety and reporting.

  • Consensus and Pledge of Support: The meeting concluded with a dynamic Q&A session where community representatives cleared operational doubts. All attending stakeholders officially pledged their institutional and traditional support toward the smooth execution of the project over the 2026–2027 cycle.