Kivulini was established in 1999 by six women who felt compelled to respond to the needs of women experiencing domestic violence, an increasing problem within the rapidly expanding city of Mwanza - the hub of the Lake Victoria Zone.
Kivulini (a registered NGO) addresses the root causes of domestic violence by working closely with community members and leaders to change attitudes and behaviors that perpetuate violence against women.
In Swahili, Kivulini literary means 'in the shade/shelter'.
It implies a safe place where women, men and children feel supported.
It implies a safe place where women, men and children feel supported.
The organization creates opportunities for community members to come together to talk, debate and coordinate programs to prevent domestic violence. Kivulini's work is based on promoting international conventions such as CEDAW (signed and ratified by Tanzania) and pro-women national by-laws.
Kivulini has extensive roots within the community in Mwanza including a network of over 20 community-based groups. The organization believes that creating violence-free communities involves empowerment of entire communities to promote women's rights.
Mission
Kivulini believes that women have the right to live free of violence in families and communities where relationships are based on equality, respect and value for women's contributions, rights, and participation.
Objectives
1. To catalyze communities at the grassroots level to change the attitudes and behaviors that perpetuates violence against women.
2. To advocate for change within existing community structures to create an environment supportive of women's rights and priorities, particularly the right to safety.
3. To build the capacity of community leaders to understand the impact of violence
4. To improve women's social-economic status through legal support, counseling and life skills training.
5. To increase awareness on the link between HIV/AIDS and gender based violence and to challenge current attitudes surrounding sexual practices to ensure reduction in the transmission of HIV.
Community Volunteers
Kivulini has about 200 community volunteers. These are individual members at grassroots level who are committed to volunteer their time and energy to conduct community awareness and education sessions on domestic violence. Community volunteers engage their respective constituents to challenge traditional norms and customs that encourage gender based violence. They also support and counsel victims of violence, referring them to human rights organizations, hospitals, courts and ward tribunals.
Program Areas
A community assessment was done at the outset of Kivulini's work. The participatory action research involved over 400 community members and leaders of all ages to learn more about perceptions about domestic violence, its causes, consequences and occurrences. The information and perspectives learned through the research informed the development and emphasis of all Kivulini programs. The report can be found here.
In order to achieve Kivulini's mission and objectives, there are 16 full-time staff members with backgrounds in journalism, law/paralegal, counseling, training and community organizing. Each staff member is assigned to one of the following departments within the organization:
Advocacy
At the grassroots, advocacy is done within the existing community infrastructure to advocate for change on the structure, protocol and policies that are detrimental to women and impede their access to rights.
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Efforts focus on:
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Network
Within local institutions and structures, Kivulini collaboration with other organizations to support national campaigns that lobby for positive change on issues related to women's rights and violence against women. Participating in local network meetings on gender, women, health and children is an important way to share information and build coalitions and support on issues of interest, i.e. domestic violence, female genital mutilation, HIV/AIDS, etc.
Community Awareness
At the core of Kivulini's goal, community awareness works at the grassroots level to inspire and organize communities to take action to prevent violence against women. The program aims to change attitudes and behaviors in the community to create an environment that is supportive of women's rights, particularly women's right to live free of violence. Participatory activities in this program include:
Capacity Building
This program aims to build capacity of community members, partners and staff. The capacity program includes a series of ToT workshops, seminars, and on-site work visits with Ward Executive Officers, the Sungu Sungu and Religious Leaders.
Kivulini also aims to provide and seek out experiences for staff members to further develop their skills. Internal and external training allows staff to share their work and learn from others.
Economic Empowerment
Economic empowerment aims to sanction women to participate more in economic incomes. This is important in helping increase women's independence within their families and the community. Because of their socio-economic circumstances, women's autonomy is often crippled. Lacking economic resources of their own, and fearful of abandonment or violence on the part of their male partners, the majority of women suffer in silence.
Since 2002, Kivulini has provided training workshops on basic business skills to more than 560 grassroots members since 2002. These members pursue funds to set up savings and credit scheme to further assist small income generating activities. Since this program's conception:
Legal Aid
Trained counselors are available on daily basis. They provide referrals to health care centers, the police or social welfare if necessary and counselors often accompany clients to provide support and help them negotiate an often-unfriendly environment. At Kivulini, women and men can also access a Legal Aid and Social Counseling Clinic two times a week. Clients may pursue this option if their cases are going to a court of law. Since 2002, the clinic has managed to provide services to more than 1,800 women. The services are free and Kivulini has a small fund to support extremely poor clients with hospital and court fees, or even food when necessary. Another component of this program are legal literacy sessions conducted with institutions and community groups on human rights. Legal aspects discussed include: the Marriage Act 1971, the Sexual Offences Special Provisions Act 1998, the Inheritance Rights and Wills Act 1999, the Land and Village Act 1999, etc. Most of the community members who participate found sessions very useful as little they knew very little about their legal rights.
Media/Learning Materials
The media activities use print and electronic media to promote discussion and public debate about domestic violence, human rights, health, HIV/AIDS and other relevant issues in the community. This department also engages journalists and the media establishment in an analysis of how women are portrayed in the media. A media checklist has been developed for various journalists in the Mwanza region. The objective with this activity was to analyze stories they write about violence against women. In addition, large scale colourful murals depicting issues of family harmony are positioned in strategic areas around Mwanza city viewed by people on a daily basis to stimulate and engage community members in dialogue to help redefine cultural beliefs and accepted behaviors in the community. Research Development and Monitoring and Evaluation
Kivulini takes great pride in assuring that the programs they are conducting are effective and relevant to the community's needs. The Research Development and Monitoring and Evaluation department of Kivulini is responsible to making sure that this principle is upheld. Each staff member at Kivulini contributes their progress and future goals through weekly reports and updates.
Last year, 19 resource persons (7 female and 12 male) were selected to form the one-to-one support team that supports community leaders, religious leaders, community volunteers and end violence groups in seven wards of Ilemela, Isamilo, Nyakato, Buswelu, Mirongo, Mbugani and Mahina in Nyamagana and Ilemela districts. The team attended a two day workshop on the process of monitoring and evaluating programs. Among others, the team works to ensure that Kivulini training goals in seminars, workshops and the daily Legal and social counselling support are becoming effective. It also keeps active communication between Kivulini and the groups being supported.
Kivulini Stationary Shop & Secretarial Services and Kivulini Kitchen
Currently, Kivulini has two main business projects in the Mwanza community. Kivulini Stationary Shop and Secretarial Services is located below the Kivulini main office. Here, the all female staff sells various stationary supplies, small crafts and refreshments five days a week. The store has been open since 2002 and continues to show great potential and success.
In September 2005, Kivulini opened its next business project - a restaurant. Kivulini Kitchen caters to both local and international cuisine. It also features a gift shop, featuring several items made by women in the Mwanza community. Like the Kivulini's stationary shop, Kivulini Kitchen also employs an all female staff.
Kivulini Kitchen is located in Isamilo area in Mwanza City. For more information or table reservations, please call +255-748558869.
Want to get involved?
Interested in learning more about Kivulini?
2005 Half Year Report
Preventing Domestic Violence in Mwanza: A Case Study of Kivulini
Community Assessement: A Report of the Phase One Review
Raising Awareness: A Six Month Narrative Report
Kivulini's Major Donors
The McKnight Foundation, USA; Canadian International Development Agency, Tanzania; Embassy of Finland, Tanzania; HIVOS, The Netherlands; Youth Challenge International, USA & Canada; Interteam, Switzerland; Rapid Funding Envelope for HIV/AIDS, Tanzania
Kivulini Women's Rights Organization
Baganda Street, Near New Park Hotel
Mlango Moja Area
PO Box 11348
Mwanza, Tanzania
Tel/Fax: +255 28 2500961
Mobile: +255 74 4367484
Email: admin@kivulini.org
Website: www.kivulini.org
Kivulini offices are located at the end of Uhuru Street near Mlango Moja
NGO Registration Number: 10151
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