The Steve Sinnott Foundation and The Gambia Teachers Union work together to alleviate School Related Gender Based Violence in The Gambia.
By Marie Antionette General Secretary Gambia Teachers Union (GTU).
Similar to countries in the sub region, The Gambia has a high prevalence of Gender Based Violence (GBV). It is one of the most prevalent human rights violations in the world with at least 1 in every 3 women alive today having experienced some form of physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. School Related Gender Based Violence (SRGBV) is a Global concern.
A recent review by UNICEF reveals that sexual violence is not uncommon in the lives of many girls. Data from 40 low and middle income countries shows up to 10% of adolescent girls aged 15-19 reported incidences of gender based violence. Sexual violence, abuse, coercion and harassment at school often remain undocumented and shrouded in silence. Social taboos make researching these issues difficult.
SRGBV is a global phenomenon, preventing children especially girls exercising their right to a safe, inclusive and quality education. We do not have evidence of the full extent of SRGBV worldwide but available data on violence against children allows us to build a partial, albeit fragmented picture of the pervasive nature of SRGBV.
Although the Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5) calls for ‘the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls by 20230’, limited progresses has been made by countries in West Africa towards the attainment of this target. Pre-existing toxic social norms and gender inequalities, economic stress caused by the pandemic coupled with restricted movement and social isolation measures have led to an exponential increase in GBV in the last year.
SRGBV is detrimental to children’s education. It can have serious effects on children’s health and well-being and their ability to learn to their full potential, it can negatively impact school participation, learning levels and completion rates and raises barriers to gender inequality in education and wider society. Combating gender based violence in and around the schools will help increase school attendance, enhance children’s quality education and improve learning outcomes. It is a vital component for the achievement of the SDG 4 education target.
SRGBV is an appalling phenomenon that undermines efforts to provide good quality education and achieve education for all. It has consequences on attendance, learning and completion rate of all learners and has the widest negative impacts on families and communities.
Although schools are the place where SRGBV occurs, they are also the places where it can stop. Schools should be learning environments where social norms and gender inequalities are challenged and transformed, including attitudes and practices condoning violence. SRGBV cannot be addressed unless it is better understood. The inability to recognize and respond to SRGBV prevents the transformation of schools into empowering spaces for girl’s, boys and teachers.
It is common knowledge that the outbreak of the COVID 19 Pandemic has fanned the flames with women and girls locked at home with abusers and household tensions high, calls for help skyrocketed. Women and girls became more vulnerable as they stayed most of the time at home. The Gambia Teachers Union (GTU) was getting increasing reports of child marriage, abuse and teenage pregnancy from the regional structures.
The GTU sought funding from the Steve Sinnott Foundation to train 45 young female teachers in Region Five. The training took place at the Regional Directorate in February this year and we are running additional training sessions over the coming months.
The overall goal of the training was to increase the teacher’s knowledge and shift attitudes and behaviours so that they can prevent SRGBV and respond to students who have experienced it. The objectives of the training were to help teachers to recognise their roles as protectors of children and agents of change in preventing SRGBV. To also identify what constitutes SRGBV, how to prevent it and how to respond to a student who has experienced SRGBV through direct support and the use of referral and reporting systems. The last objective was to restructure teaching practices to reinforce the prevention of SRGBV and promote a safe learning environment for all students.
Declarations from the Participants
“As a young female teacher in my school and community, I will be a role model to the girls.”
“I will be closer to the girls so as to identify their issues and help in addressing them.”
“With my colleagues in the school, we will organize ‘a girls’ hour’ every fortnight where we will assemble all the girls and discuss GBV issues and the impact it has on women and girls with them.”
“In my school I will work with the mothers club on addressing girls’ issues.”
Reflections on the training from the Participants
“The training was very educational, inspiring and timely as we are in the era of COVID-19 which has caused a whole lot of School Related Gender Based Violence.”
“Am really inspired and satisfied with the training and I will do a step down with my colleagues in my school and cluster.”
“I am thankful to the sponsor of the training and the GTU for choosing our region. I have learned a lot and I will share the knowledge with others in my school.”
“I have knowledge on how to fight SRGBV and I hope more training will be given to my colleagues in other regions so that together we will fight and eradicate SRGBV.”
“This is the best training I have had so far on Gender Based Violence and my role in fighting and eradicating it especially in my school and community.”
“Thank you Steve Sinnott Foundation for funding this training and GTU for organising it.”
“I thank the sponsor, coordinator and facilitators for the wonderful training. I have learnt a lot that I will share with others.”
“I am seeing the fight against GBV as a teamwork, so I will work with all the female teachers, mothers’ clubs, school councillors and senior management committee in the fight.”
“I am very grateful for the training and will raise awareness of GBV in my school and communities.”
Conclusion
It is time to stand up and say enough to violence. Enough to assumptions that violence is permissible or going away on its own. Enough to treating violence as anything less than a full scale crisis that we must do everything in our power to stop.
Enough!
That’s what we say, today and every day, to all forms of violence against women and girls. Enough to domestic violence, enough to rape, enough to harmful practices like female genital mutilation, and enough to impunity for one of the most flagrant and pervasive violations of human rights, women and girls have every right to live free from violence, everywhere.
Thank you Steve Sinnott Foundation for your unflinching support to the Gambia Teachers Union.
By Marie Antionette • October 11, 2021
Most of us want to leave the world a little better than we found it. Whether that's through the people we love, the values we pass on, or the causes we care about, we all hope our legacy will make a difference. One of the simplest ways to do that is by writing a will. This autumn, we are proud to be taking part in the Change Starts with a Will campaign, allowing our supporters to write or update their will free of charge through our trusted partner, Octopus Legacy. Why writing a will matters Writing a will isn't just about deciding who inherits your possessions. It's about making sure your wishes are respected and providing peace of mind for the people you care about. Having a will means you can: Protect the people you love. Make important decisions about your estate. Reduce uncertainty for your family. Leave a lasting gift to a cause that reflects your values. Many people put off writing a will, believing it's something to think about later in life. In reality, it's one of the most important documents you'll ever create. A legacy that supports education Steve Sinnott dedicated his life to championing education as a fundamental human right. His belief was simple but powerful: every child deserves the opportunity to learn, and every teacher deserves the support they need to inspire future generations. Today, we continue that mission by working with partners across the world to improve access to quality education, strengthen teaching and support communities where education can change lives. When you choose to leave a gift in your will to The Steve Sinnott Foundation, you're helping ensure that this work can continue for years to come. After taking care of family and friends, even a small gift could help provide learning opportunities, strengthen education systems and create brighter futures for generations to come. A gift that lasts beyond a lifetime Legacy gifts play an important role in helping charities plan for the future. Your support could help us continue investing in sustainable education projects, supporting teachers and ensuring more children have access to the education they deserve. It's a powerful way to ensure your values live on long into the future. Write your will for free As part of our Autumn 2026 campaign, we're offering supporters the opportunity to write or update their will free of charge through Octopus Legacy. There is no obligation to leave a gift to The Steve Sinnott Foundation, but we hope you'll consider remembering us after you've taken care of those closest to you. Together, we can continue Steve Sinnott's vision of a world where education changes lives. Find out more If you've been thinking about writing your will, there's never been a better time. Our free will service is available until 31 October 2026 , making it easy to protect the people you love while considering the lasting impact your legacy could have on education worldwide. https://octopuslegacy.com/online-will?channel=partner Change starts with a will. And together, we can help create a future where education is accessible to everyone.
Seeds of Hope are everywhere! “I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I arrived at Stage at the Lake…” But it was special to meet all of the Calderdale team in person, who had brought this four-day event together so successfully. Sometimes an event stays with you long after the final performance has finished. My visit to Stage at the Lake at the beautiful Shibden Hall in Calderdale was one of those occasions. As UNESCO ASPnet UK Coordinator, I was delighted to be invited as a guest, but what I experienced was much more than simply attending an event. Here, in the grounds of a house steeped in history, the past, present and future seemed to meet. The English Chamber Orchestra filled the setting with music, Northern Ballet brought movement and storytelling to life, and throughout there was a wonderful sense of creativity, community and possibility. And then there were the parklets; a unique gardening festival at Shibden Park celebrating community, creativity and the power of nature to bring people together. At its heart was a specially commissioned trail of ten micro show gardens, designed and built by community groups from across Calderdale. It was wonderful to see spaces where ideas, conversations and creativity were flourishing and connecting through Seeds of Hope. I cannot wait to see them transported to their ‘forever homes’. Standing there, I found myself thinking about what we mean when we talk about education, culture and hope.
2025 During the annual fomasyon for Alfa monitors, Antoliyis Pye gave an extensive presentation on how best to introduce and develop basic math concepts in literacy classes. The response to his insight and enthusiasm led to our decision to create our own math book for Alfa participants. In Haiti and around the world, illiterate market women and peasant farmers develop their own techniques for calculating and recording numbers. However, in providing literacy for the development of our people, we must also introduce the world of conventional numeracy. These skills lead to logical thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to interpret and make informed decisions on numerical evidence. For a year we worked together to draft the contents of our Alfa Liv Kalkil, seek illustrations, create layout, and finally take our product to the local printer. Funds were provided for 350 copies, enough for each Alfa participant at each of our sites at the present level of attendance. 2026 Our next step was to fully engage each Alfa monitor in the process for introduction and use of Liv Kalkil in Alfa classes. Our two day fomasyon for 2026 was dedicated to ensuring that each member of our team was familiar with the book and comfortable in implementing the concepts with Alfa participants. The sessions were a great success. Every monitor was extremely pleased with this new tool which will allow them and their classes to work together in the world of mathematics. Liv Kalkil is now in service for every participant throughout Alfa, from Limonade itself out to sites in the hills and along the river. It is with some excitement that the monitors and participants are beginning to use our very own, home-grown, math book. In the same way that we already had Goute Sel*, Lekti Netale*, Ti Koze Sou Istwa Peyi Dayiti*, we are proud to have this math book which advances our shared work for the development of our people. We are profoundly grateful to all those who have encouraged and supported us in developing this book. We want to thank our dedicated team of monitors, the Alfa support team in Columbus, Ann Beatty and the Steve Sinnott Foundation, and the many others who contribute to our literacy programme. Chancy Jak (Alfa Co-ordinator) Antoliyis Pye (senior monitor) *Goute Sel: Taste of Salt (base text for Alfa literacy classes) *Lekti Netale (reading comprehension) *Ti Koze Sou Istwa Peyi Dayiti (stories from Haitian history; Alfa second level)
