GT is finally in Sierra Leone! During the last weekend of February we made the trip from East Africa to West Africa, a new experience of cultures, people and way of life. The most vivid first memory has to be how friendly Sierra Leonians are, from trying to help you get comfortable at the airport to suggesting beautiful things to experience in their home.
Our first session was scheduled for the 24th of February, 2023. We partnered with GADNet as they run a mentorship program and have a cohort of young women being trained in leadership skills and feminism. The coordination with their Executive Director, Hannah, was well played out and the estimation was to have an audience of 30 people.
The afternoon session started off with pleasantries where everyone had to share what they love about themselves and pass it on by complimenting someone next to them. This eased us into a jolly and soft atmosphere, where we embarked on the topic of the day, which was focusing on creating safe spaces for women and girls.
Safe Space. The what, when and How.
What does the term safe space mean to you? What are the feelings you experience in your safest place? Girl Talk sessions and spaces are intended to be safe spaces where we all feel comfortable to talk about our experiences. These safe spaces vary from one community to the other based on what they perceive as safe. Understanding what safety means to them from a community perspective help us curate sessions that are reflective of their needs. In Sierra Leone for example, the group of young women we hosted shared with us that safety to them relates to a place e.g. where they can be alone, or in their bedroom or outside in nature. Safety also referred to a person e.g. a close relative, a parent, a sibling or a friend. Safety also referred to trust, confidentiality, ability to just be. Learning from the community help us co-create a space that meets their needs.
The conversation proceeded to sharing on our theme for the year which is Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights and inquiring what conversations the young women would love to have, learn more about and experience healing with. This conversation give us a clearer idea on what we should focus on through the year.
Our session concluded with Care International offering a training on how to use condoms and why it is important. This was a very interactive session and the Young women got an opportunity to learn something new and ask questions. We are looking forward to similar partnerships for our various GT spaces.
Sierra Leone was a beautiful experience, the young women loved the spaces we were creating and are eager to take on leadership. It was a nostalgic moment of my first GT and a reminder that this work we do is necessary.
Lisa Kanyamozi, GTA Director.
