"It was indeed an eye-opener, giving insight into the things that we tend to ignore regardless of their impact in the family and community at large,"
Faith leaders have a key role to play in turning the tide of GBVF. To do so this involves looking within, reflecting on self and reflecting on the faith context. It involves being equipped with knowledge, sound theological foundations and the capacity to look through a gender lens. And then being supported to act as a faith leader to advocate against GBVF.
This is exactly the opportunity and experience that 20 faith leaders had on the first pilot of the Faith Leadership Gender Transformation Programme (FLGTP). Initiated by WWSOSA and through a collaborative initiative of the Faith Action to end GBV collective, 14 partners supported this pilot which was completed in July this year.
With the aim of creating a gender-competent faith community – to think differently and DO differently, the programme is a response to the call to “do church differently” by the Methodist Church in Southern Africa’s Presiding Bishop Purity Malinga.
“It was indeed an eye-opener, giving insight into the things that we tend to ignore regardless of their impact in the family and community at large,” said Robson Rogers, who explained that he applied the learnings through setting up zonal Bible studies in his church; “… it was from that moment that there was a silent spiritual killer that was exposed and indeed we realised that we had great work to do as leaders in the church.”
The programme itself was innovative and evolving with a key learning being the importance of active critical and self-reflective engagement by participants for lifelong integration of learning in everyday practice. With a balanced theory and practical approach, many participants and other faith leaders are requesting ongoing practical and theological support to transform their congregations and communities.
The first pilot had funding support from DG Murray Trust and ACT Ubumbano. As the project moves into the next phase, the start of pilot 2 and groundwork for pilot 3 is being funded by the Solidarity Fund. Faith communities and FBOs will be invited to send 2 participants to Pilot 2 of the programme to begin in November – one under and one over 35 years, to open up intergenerational dialogues in the programme, which the participants will then take forward in their own contexts. The programme is working towards an interfaith curriculum, which will be the focus in the Pilot 3.
Watch this space for calls for applications, or contact