Standing against gender-based violence | World Vision
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Semira, 17, lives in Shashemene, Ethiopia, where the fight against gender-based violence is far from over. Girls are still experiencing early marriage, female genital mutilation, and much more.

From the moment she could carry a bucket, Semira would gather the water, cook the food, and collect the firewood for their family. Her three brothers would play with their friends. None of them thought anything of it – it was just how things had always been in their community in rural Ethiopia.

Doing all the chores made it hard to keep up at school, but Semira knew that it didn’t matter because her parents would be looking for a husband for her soon – most likely before she finished school. Early marriage was expected of girls in her community.

There were other things too — like girls being forced to marry a man who had abducted them instead of fighting the crime.

“I thought all harmful traditional practices were useful,” says Semira, “and I used to respect and protect them like any other community member.”

Until she was 13.

Semira and her friends

At the age of 13, Semira's perspective shifted profoundly. As sponsorship had been working in Shashemene, World Vision invited Semira and her peers in the community to engage in discussions on gender-based violence. As she listened, Semira was shocked to learn about the grim realities behind traditional practices ingrained in her community, such as child marriage and female genital mutilation. 

Semira and her friends took matters into their own hands and formed a girls club to help educate others on the importance of empowering girls.

When Semira started the club she said that “This is the most important thing I can do for my generation. I have dedicated my life to fighting and eradicating harmful traditional practices. If we girls are united, we can eradicate these practices from the face of my country forever."

Today, Semira’s brave decision to stand up for the girls in her community has led to profound change.  The club is responsible for many girls having a voice and being able to express them freely.

Once on her way to becoming a child bride, Semira is now a champion for girls rights and provides an avenue for girls to break free from societal expectations. 

“The community here used to think that the kitchen was the right place for women. There was clear gender-based violence before, and women were considered worthless as compared to men,” explains Semira now. “Now those backward attitudes have changed after our advocacy work.”

In just a few years, Semira has inspired so much change, thanks to dedicated support of sponsors keeping programs like the girls’ club running in Shashemene. With more support, imagine what the next five years might hold? 

“I want the community to allow for girls to get educated,” she says. “Girls have a role to play like any other citizens in the development of their country. I hope and wish to see girls in leadership places.”

How can you help protect girls’ rights?


 

World Vision intentionally focusses on women and girls in every aspect of our work, because we know that when women and girls are empowered, everyone wins.

When you sponsor a girl, you’re helping World Vision teach communities about children's rights and enabling women and girls to overcome the barriers they face. Together, we can support and amplify children's voices to hold authorities to account and campaign for change through child parliaments, girls' clubs and child protection committees.

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