NoFYL Community Discussion Leaders Training

Education

CISP, in partnership with NoFYL, conducted a training for Community Discussion Leaders (CDLs) from Waberi and Wadajir Districts in Mogadishu as part of the FCDO-funded project Empowered Communities, Including Boys and Girls, to Fight Violence Against Women and Children in and around  Schools.

This training aimed to cultivate a vision of a healthier, safer, and more peaceful community by addressing power dynamics and exploring strategies to mobilize collective power to prevent sexual violence. Key topics included sexual violence, self-awareness, social norms, and community dialogue facilitation, all with the goal of creating an environment where survivors can access compassionate, high-quality, survivor-centered services.

"In our community, harmful social norms such as gender-based violence, child marriage, and unequal access to education pose significant threats to the safety and dignity of women and children. These norms perpetuate cycles of harm and inhibit progress toward a more equitable society," stated Abdirahman from Waberi District.

During the training, participants engaged in an exercise where they selected a facilitator and co-facilitator to practice using the discussion guide. Paired participants were assigned a topic and given 1 hour and 30 minutes to lead a discussion session, while others observed and assessed the facilitators’ skills in facilitation and active listening. Constructive feedback was provided at the end of each session.

“I will be facilitating dialogues in the Wadajir Community. I participated in this training because I believe in the transformative power of dialogue to build bridges, foster understanding, and create positive change within communities,” said Mohamed, a CDL from Wadajir District.

Anab, another Community Dialogues Leader from Waberi District, explained that when selecting members for their dialogue groups, they prioritize diversity of perspectives, a willingness to engage in respectful dialogue, and a commitment to positive change. He noted that this approach leads to more comprehensive discussions and inclusive outcomes.

The Empowered Communities, Including Boys and Girls, to Fight Violence Against Women and Children in and Around Schools project aims to reduce violence against women, boys, and girls by creating safer schools and communities. It seeks to transform harmful social norms into positive ones that uphold dignity, safety, and equity for women, boys, girls, and their families in the Banadir and Galmudug regions of Somalia.

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