GMN INTERVIEW | SAY NO TO GBV & BE A SPONSOR - nbc

Added: 2026-05-11

[00:00:06]Welcome back. Now, the Voice of Hope youth program is hosting the Say No to GBV and be a sponsor fundraising event on the 1 of August 2026 in Octapium Sati region. Now, this initiative aims to mobilize youth and communities to raise awareness, encourage reporting and take collective action against gender based violence. Now this morning we're joined virtually by deputy mayor for Shuku Town Council and the chief coordinator of the event Cecilia Kamati to talk to us about the importance of this campaign and its impact. Ladies, good morning and thank you so much for making time to speak to us this morning.

[00:00:41]>> Good morning Lord. Thank you for having me.

[00:00:43]>> Okay. Now, Deputy Mayor Kati, let's talk about what inspired the launch of the Say No to GBV and be a sponsor initiative and why this approach is perhaps important for communities uh within the region.

[00:00:59]>> Okay, great. Thank you. Just to emphasize a little bit on gender gender based violence because this is a societal issue that affect many individuals, families, youth, children.

[00:01:13]based on just women issue as many people think even men are affected.

[00:01:22]It's painful reality that most of the people silently experienced this initiative saying to gender based violence sponsor was inspired um just to fight gend gender based violence especially in region that we are going to launch this initiative.

[00:01:46]The launch of uh the launch itself uh uh to say GBV and B sponsor initiative was inspired by growing number of gender based violence cases affecting the whole to say Namibia at large.

[00:02:03]The approach is also important from SA community uh because GBV cases are linked to social challenges such as poverty.

[00:02:14]Uh alcohol abuse to say drugs that is really high rate when it come to abuse especially uh among our youth.

[00:02:25]unemployment uh and also to stay silent within families and communities through education and awareness campaign and community engagement.

[00:02:36]This initiative aimed to create safer homes, protect women and children and also inspire communities to stand together against violence. Thank you so much.

[00:02:46]>> Now, this program deputy mayor involves deploying 72 trained youth per region for grassroot engagement. How do you see youth leadership contributing to a lasting change in the fight against GBV?

[00:02:59]>> Thank you Lord for the question. Youth leadership plays a very important role in creating lasting change in fa in fighting against gender based violence because young people are the voice.

[00:03:12]Young people are the future.

[00:03:15]uh the deployment of 72 trained youth per region uh is a very powerful step because these young leaders will will be able to engage directly to communities.

[00:03:27]It's it's a traditional norm that we we choose which now include schools uh to say churches, sports, platforms um and family uh just to educate people about the danger and consequences of uh GBV.

[00:03:46]uh looking at young people that now we choose to volunteer uh to participate in this. They they need to understand the challenges uh face facing the the generation and uh to say also communicate more efficiently uh within fellow youth in ways that probably inspire and trust uh opinees and also to say um by giving young people purposes, training and leadership >> opportunities, initiatives building generation.

[00:04:22]>> Okay. This bring value to people to protect women and children in community just to bring unity and to strengthen the awareness of uh promoting uh gender based the consequences of uh participating or practicing gender based violence in the community.

[00:04:41]>> Now deputy mayor we understand that the campaign includes an outreach in home schools and even shabins. Why is it important to engage people in these everyday spaces when addressing GBV?

[00:04:53]Thank you a lot. It's it's important to engage people in every in everyday spaces because gender based violence does not only happen in one place. It happens within homes, relationships, schools, community to mention the few workplaces and also environment. Um homes are important because this is going to be a doortodo campaign. Many victims suffer silent within families and relationships to say this is a very traditional way and we we we pick and we feel it's very efficiently that engaging in shines also and door to that is also a method of doortodoor whereby social spaces is equally important uh because these are places where many social problems linked to gender based violence such as alcohol ab conflicts and peer pressure often occur.

[00:05:50]>> Now, from your leadership perspective, what are some of the biggest challenges communities face in reporting and addressing GBV cases and how will this initiative help overcome some of these challenges?

[00:06:04]>> Um, can you please repeat that question again? uh from your leadership perspective, what are some of the biggest challenges that communities face in reporting and addressing GBV cases and how can initiatives like this help overcome these challenges?

[00:06:25]>> Okay. Uh the decision this will this will probably um improve or awaken people uh especially those that are less to express themsel or they are less exposed to to gender based violence consequences or just they they are more exposed they they have they have less confidence of reporting harmful acts that are happening to them. This will expose or it will awaken community members to have freedom of expression, freedom of uh reporting cases against gender gender based violence and the community will also have now fear to understand that there's uh there's no there's no usually lack of action taken um among people that are violating or that are participating. ing, abusing or harming one another. But actions are to be taken or actions are can be taken against and they need to understand that it's a very serious action abusing someone physically or emotionally or even sexually to mention the some of the few types of gender based violence or to say types of abuse.

[00:07:49]Now, Deputy Mayor, as we begin to wrap up our conversation, we understand that the event also calls on people to be a sponsor. What role do local businesses, leaders, and community members play in supporting and sustain sustaining this initiative?

[00:08:05]>> Okay. Um um the B sponsor call is about turning support into practical measurable contribution and there are several meaningful ways of both individuals and organizations can be involved.

[00:08:21]uh to say financial contributions where or once of ongoing help or leaders or to say business people can come through and support because the whole launch or the whole um initiative will need uh financial assistance uh training assistance. We also need professionals to come through to assist us to train the 72 volunteers that are going to participate. It will also in um contribute to employ um employment engagement because these people that are going to volunteer they will got they'll probably get a slight remineration if we get uh sponsors from to say business people local leadership uh to support us to keep this running according to plan.

[00:09:08]Government institutions, civil society organization, community members, traditional leaders are also expected to come through. In short or in the nutshell um what make this initiative unique is that sponsors are not just donors. They become partners in in in driving this society in social change in the community and also they are recognized for their contribution involving the in this type of activities. We are expecting everyone to participate it in it because gender based violence is not only affecting its vendors. It's also affecting the whole to say country even e economically. So getting involved means taking a stand whether through resources, time, influence helping transform awareness into action so that protects life and restore dignity of our country. Finally, looking ahead, what impact do you hope this campaign will have in OAPI and beyond? And what message would you like to share with the public against standing up gender based violence?

[00:10:15]>> Thank you so much Lord for the question.

[00:10:17]Um, looking ahead, we hope this campaign will will really create a lasting impact in that is where we are going to launch the campaign. We want this initiative to inspire community to break silence surrounding uh surrounding gender based violence. Speaking to you now, I'm even turning emotional because I'm one of the person that found myself when I was young affected uh through GBV. So silence allow violence to continue but unity, awareness and action can bring change. Every person has a role to play whether by speaking out, supporting victims, educating others, mentoring the youth and standing for justice and respect. So we are hoping for the best and we are fighting in Namibia to to fight to avoid gender based violence to have a peaceful country. Well, >> Cecilia Kamati, thank you so much for making time to speak to us and all the best towards the hosting of this fundraising event on the 1 of August 2026 in Otapi in theat region.

[00:11:23]My precious lot. Thank you for having me. Really appreciate it.