A Civic Engagement Activity by Ngozi Nwafor an EPLF Fellow
The specific reason for this activity was to sensitize women on the merits of active participation in politics, awaken their full leadership potential, and demystify myths and norms surrounding women’s participation in politics and governance.
Statistically, there were 48 Participants in general; 40 Community Women, 2 Community leaders/ Village heads, 1 Community mobilizer, 2 Volunteers, 2 Guests, and 1 EPLF fellow. Also, Community Leaders were reached out to and advocated the need for women to participate in governance within and outside their community. A Community mobilizer was engaged to support the mobilization of participants (women of voting age).
Outcomes
Ngozi, an EPLF Fellow, led the discussion like a community listening session. The community women expressed and listed norms & cultural/religious beliefs that form barriers to women participating in politics and even local governance within their communities.
About 40 women were sensitized, and they gained new knowledge on how to participate actively in politics, leadership, and governance. They will participate in forthcoming 2023 elections, as well as in decision-making within their communities, local government, and state level.
Next Steps.
EPLF fellows should be supported to teach women groups at the grassroots level with action plans drawn by such women groups through a Community Action Cycle(CAC)) approach.
As a step in the right direction, I will do a follow-up on the conduct of town hall meetings for seven( 7) women groups within the community by women leaders on lessons received on December 24, 2022, and follow up on the mobilization of women to participate in the voting process in February 2023.
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