Overview:
Swans Sports Club was the key organizer for this workshop in conjunction with the Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) and Uganda Rugby Union (URU) funded by the Olympic Solidarity.
A three-day capacity building workshop to tame Gender Based Violence organized by Swans Sports Club in Entebbe Municipality successfully concluded at the Innophine Hotel 790 Limited.
Dwelled along the theme “Leadership, sport and community action to end Gender Based Violence”, this workshop brought together different community leaders.
School administrators, religious heads, community and other civic leaders among others were all actively involved in this workshop.
Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) General Secretary Beatrice Ayikoru officially graced the closure of this workshop.
Ayikoru, a vastly experienced administrator lauded the main organizers for the workshop (Swans sports club), associate partners and all the participants, calling upon a collective voice to mitigate the ill mannerism leading to Gender Based Violence in families and the general community.
“Together, we can say no to Gender Based Violence. It is the time to come up with a common voice and say no to all acts of Gender Based Violence” Ayikoru remarked during her key note address.
Swans Sports Club was the key organizer for this workshop in conjunction with the Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) and Uganda Rugby Union (URU) funded by the Olympic Solidarity.
Entebbe Municipality Principal Education Officer Joyce Nalubega graced the official opening on day one.
Nalubega highlighted Gender Based Violence as a silent killer in the community today.
“Gender Based Violence is a silent killer. This workshop therefore is a special moment of responsibility, moment of leadership and a moment of change. Sport teaches positive masculinity for boys, confidence in girls, provides safe mentorship spaces and a big financial source for the successful parties. Therefore, there is good cause to protect the young ones against exploitation” Nalubega, a teacher by profession commented.
UOC senior administrator Elijah Njawuzi and the assistant administrator (technical) Joseph Oluka wee among the key presenters at this workshop.
Others were local community leaders, headteachers, faith leaders, district sports leaders as well as coaches.
Regina Lunyolo, the director at SWANS Sports Club further stressed the value of sport as a platform for mentorship, leadership and protection.
“Sport is a platform for mentorship, leadership and protection. We take pride in working with different partners as Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC), Uganda Rugby Union (URU), Olympic Solidarity and a number of community leaders. Teachers nurture young minds, coaches mentor as we always say that Sport must always be safe, inclusive and protective.” Lunyolo remarked.
Crowded catalogue of activities:
The opening day had a plenary session with a panel of experts in the morning followed by a break-away session highlighting the topic “Understanding Gender Based Violence risks and leadership gaps” and identifying the GBV risks as well as leadership risks.
The second day had a safe guarding session, community reporting and survivor support, mapping of referral pathways, group reports and commitments.
The final day had a keynote presentation on how sport can be used as a tool for GBV protection (by Ayikoru), a panel discussion engaging boys and girls, community action planning before the action plan presentations.
This workshop is a continuation of the two earlier sessions organized by SWANS Sports Club. The first one was the Training of Trainers (T.O.T) workshop at Innophine Hotel 790 Limited which was followed by the practical bit (Rugby gala) at Bwerenga in Kisubi.
