Transforming Harmful Norms, One Dialogue at a Time

Protection

The Community Dialogue Sessions under the What Works 2 Project, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, officially started in Mogadishu. These community discussion sessions are conducted by NoFYL in partnership with CISP and aim to contribute to reducing violence against women and children in schools, at home, and in the community. The purpose is to address harmful social norms related to violence against women and children within the community and promote positive change.

The dialogue sessions bring together community members to discuss various social challenges, focusing on identifying and transforming harmful norms into practices that benefit the community. Participants sit in a circle, engage in open discussions, share personal experiences, and collaboratively develop strategies for change, while concentrating on one theme for each session.

"These dialogue sessions are an important step toward creating a more inclusive and equitable society," said Fahia, a local community leader.

“The team is in the 5th session, and we’ve noted a significant change in their attitudes toward harmful social norms,” said Mohamud, Community Discussion Leader (CDL).

At the community level, four groups attend the session, and each group consists of 12 participants. They meet twice a week. The sessions will facilitate ongoing conversations about reducing violence against children in schools, at home, and in the community.

"We believe that change starts at the community level," stated Naima, a representative from CISP. "Through these dialogues, we aim to create a safe space for discussions that reduce violence against children and encourage positive norms."

The Community Dialogue Sessions are set to continue over the coming weeks, with the goal of fostering a culture of dialogue that empowers individuals to advocate for positive change and become champions of change in their community.

The What Works 2 project—‘Empowered Communities, Including Boys and Girls, to Fight Against Violence Against Women and Children in and Around Schools’— funded by FCDO, aims to contribute to a reduction in violence against women, boys, and girls through the creation of safer schools and communities by transforming harmful social norms into positive ones that uphold the dignity, safety, and equity for women, boys, and girls, and their families in the Banadir and Galmudug regions of Somalia.

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