Highlighting Changemakers during the Pandemic - Davis Damson



My name is Davis Damson. I work as Operations Manager for Community Initiative for Social Empowerment (CISE Malawi) in the Mchinji district of Malawi. I became a community activist to help raise the living standard of the underprivileged and oppressed and am inspired to see those we have empowered take a lead in developing their communities. I personally contributed to the establishment of Girls Action Groups (GAGs) which fights against the challenges girls face in vulnerable communities, including gender inequalities, marriage patterns, barriers to accessing services, child sex abuse and gender based violence.

A key lesson for youths interested in being active in their community is to firstly understand what ordinary people want in the community and then to make sure there is full community involvement in the project planning and implementation. You should also make sure project partners properly understand the concept of a bottom-up approach and don't take over the planning process.



During the pandemic we are developing and disseminating comprehensive gender-sensitive awareness information which includes how to address fake news,  how to protect, manage and report on the pandemic, how to provide targeted information and support to vulnerable groups especially Adolescents Girls and Young Women (AGYW). We plan to do this through a TV documentary, live and recorded radio programs and social media (in collaboration with JournAIDS and financial support from Just Associates). 


Radio Programs will be aired on Mudziwathu Community Radio Station. Radio program 1: Economic costs of Covid 19 on AGYW on business/enterprises during the lockdown 2: AGYW's views on the pandemic's impacts in their homes 3: How AGWY understand the impacts on food security. 4: AGYW’s access to health information and services 5: Impact on AGYW accessing family planning and other health services. A TV documentary will be aired on TTV, Zodiak TV and MBC. The findings will inform planning for implementation of a project called 'Enhancing AGYW's humanitarian response to Covid-19 pandemic in vulnerable communities. '

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Highlighting Changemakers: Munyaradzi Didymus Muzenda

Image
Briefly introduce yourself My name is Munyaradzi Didymus Muzenda from Zimbabwe. I am passionate about developing ideas, dreams, visions, talents and projects. I am the founder of Tact Youth Association in Zimbabwe; founder of Afrika Speaks; founder and chairman of GAAB; director of Live Your Dream Africa Project and chairperson of Cycling for SDGS Africa (Cyling4SDGS). I am also the director of Marketing for the Moving Arts Project.  Why did you choose to become a community activist? One of my mentors told me in my early days of youth activism that: an activist is not the one who says the river is dirty. An activist is the one who cleans the river. A person is only remembered for two things -the problems you have caused or the problems that you have solved. I have decided to lead by doing and its the best way to inspire others.     What kind of community work are you involved in? Having been in youth and community work for a long time, I finally managed to identify t...
Read more

Highlighting Changemakers: Ifeoma Chibiko

Image
Briefly introduce yourself. My name is Rev. Sr. Lilian Ifeoma Chibiko. I am a native of Umuekwule Ugwaku in Okigwe local government area of Imo State Nigeria. In 2007 I was sent on mission to Sweden. The mission work lasted till end of 2016 when I decided to come back. I learnt a lot in the mission and that was one of the reasons that made me move back to my country to give back. I was very active in youth work and community work; I have a passion for the youth ministry and community work. Presently, I am the Principal of Mercy Technical High School Nbawsi Isiala Ngwa North LGA Abia State. I engage a lot in community, youth work and climate change awareness.   Solar kits supplied to 200 house holds In 2018, I succeeded in powering 200 households with solar energy. Each family got a solar kit of 3 bulbs and where to charge their phones. This project was a success through support from UNDP. S olar training is done i n 3 stages - Production of solar panels using s olar cells, s...
Read more

Highlighting Changemakers - Ayaa Musuya Muttu

Image
A yaa is Art Curator for the Great African Art Banner, a project that seeks to work with artists representing all nations of the African Continent in creating a 55km art Banner depicting the Hopes, Dreams and Aspirations for the future of the Continent. It is set to run Continent wide from January 2020-2023. The moving Arts Project will travel across Africa with a group of its best artists to create arts which enhance dialogue around our dreams. It will also take a selected group across the globe to highlight the Arts and Social Development on the Continent. Find out more by contacting Ayaa at    ayaamusuya@protonmail.com ,    +256 750 320659, facebook & Instagram: ayaaspeaks Introduction My name is Ayaa Musuya Muttu, an Artist, and the Founder and Director of SistaSistaAfrika, an organization that seeks to encourage female to female mentorship, inspiration and learning in order to raise awareness and catalyse action around social issues impacting our communities...
Read more