The prize awarding ceremony for young people
On 3rd August 2023, CCFU held a prize awarding ceremony for 9 young people in Acholi cultural community who participated in a drawing competition for cultural resources that end violence against women and girls in their communities.
The event which was held at SOS Children’s Villages in Gulu was attended by young people, representatives of the Gulu District Local Government, civil society organisations such as FIDA, UN Women, Hope Centre Uganda, Hope for Children, Wise Women Uganda, Soul to Soul, International Justice Mission among others, cultural leaders, religious leaders and the media.
The event was organised to recognise outstanding young people and to create an opportunity for intergenerational dialogue, were young people discussed issues related to violence against women and girls with elders.
“I drew Rwot Okoro (female chief) because she is very important in presenting problems that women face in Acholi to the council of chiefs.” Bob Oketayot, Kitgum Comprehensive College
While speaking at the event, the UN Women Gender Mainstreaming Coordinator and Officer for Gulu Sub Office, Ms. Auma Judith applauded young people for engaging in activities that promote violence against women and girls at young engage. Miss Auma added that “culture has been blamed for so long as hindrance to ending violence against women and girls yet if positive resources are harnessed, they can be a contributor to promoting the rights of women and girls.”
Although the Acholi community is rich with cultural resources that are utilised to address violence against women and girls, they have not been documented and hence not largely utilised. Those that are known such as Wng’oo (the fireplace) are phasing out. This also because parents are busy working toward economic survival and there is no time for children.
To bridge the information gap, CCFU used the entries of the young people to produce a publication highlighting these cultural resources and it was disseminated at the event and online.
Rwot Otinga Otto Attuka Yai, the Deputy Paramount Chief and Chief of Lamogi chiefdom encouraged cultural leaders and parents to revive traditional learning spaces such as Wang’oo to transmit cultural values that groom and nurture young people into responsible and respectable citizens, especially those that protect women and girls.
About the competition on cultural resources to end violence against women and girls
Over the years, different stakeholders have undertaken various measures to end violence against women and girls, however, this still remains a challenge.
The Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU) in partnership with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, with support from the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative to Eliminate Violence Against Women and Girls and the Embassy of Sweden, is implementing a project aimed at utilising positive cultural resources to address violence against women and girls, promote sexual reproductive health rights and access to justice. The project is implemented in the 6 cultural communities of Acholi, Alur, Buganda, Busoga, Karamoja and Tooro.
As part of the project, young people in Acholi, Karamoja, Buganda and Tooro participated in a drawing competition to illustrate cultural
resources in their communities that are utilised to end violence against women and girls.
Over 200 entries were collected and a jury of cultural leaders (including women) in the communities selected the best entries which have been used to develop this publication. We appreciate the cultural institutions of Buganda, Acholi, Karamoja and Tooro for supporting this competition. In Alur, a similar competition was conducted, and a publication produced.