The U.S. Embassy awarded Sister Namibia with a grant for US $20,000 (N$280,000) to address gender-based violence (GBV) through discussion and dialoguing around gender norms. In recognition of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign, U.S. Ambassador to Namibia Lisa Johnson recently met with Sister Namibia Acting Director Laura Sasman to congratulate her on receiving the grant.
The project will run from Jan-Dec 2019, and aims to challenge and transform gender norms that drive violence, while also promoting equal, inclusive, and human rights-based norms. Sister Namibia aims to do this through discussions conducted via weekly radio shows, bi-weekly newspaper articles, and monthly public debates. In addition to Windhoek, events will be held in Rundu, Oshakati, Ongwediva, and Keetmanshoop.
Sister Namibia was founded in 1989 on the eve of national independence to give women a voice on the building of a democratic post-colonial society. For the first ten years, its main activity was the production of Sister Namibia magazine. While still publishing the magazine four times a year, they now also engage in the fields of media, education, advocacy, and cultural activity in order to promote women’s human rights and full equality in a world free from violence, discrimination, and oppression. Sister Namibia describes itself as having always been driven by a spirit of feminism to see women and girls equipped with the knowledge of their rights and the information to achieve their improved and equal status in society.
The U.S. Embassy supports the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign, and hopes this grant will help reduce GBV in Namibia. In this regard, on Thursday, December 6 at 7:00 pm at the American Cultural Center in the Sanlam Building, 3rd Floor, the U.S. Embassy will host a screening of “Tick Tock,” a Namibian movie about GBV.
This grant was part of the U.S. Embassy’s annual Public Affairs Small Grants Program. Applications will again be accepted in March 2019. More info on the PAS Small Grants program is available here: https://na.usembassy.gov/grant-applications/
