Creating a Pathway to Ending Domestic and Gender-Based Violence
Dalan ba Justisa/Pathway to Justice Program
April 2014 – February 2015
In support of the government’s National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence this project used an innovative combination of theatre performances and targeted perpetrator trainings to address widespread domestic and gender-based violence in Timor-Leste.
Our Work
Through theatre performance and targeted trainings we are :
- Providing information on domestic and gender-based violence prevention and referral pathways
- Increasing awareness of the formal justice system and the processes by which citizens can access it
- Promoting gender equality and gender-equitable behaviours and attitudes
- Encouraging positive behaviour change
Our Impact
- 10 innovative drama performances across 4 districts
- 3531 audience members
- 75 men perpetrators of gender-based violence have received training
- A unique approach which works with perpetrators and the broader community to improve understandings of positive relationships, gender equality and gender-based violence prevention
- After the theatre performances, 99% of surveyed audience members reported they know about Timor-Leste’s Law Against Domestic Violence, and 72% could explain it accurately. Before the performances, only 59% of those surveyed knew about the law and only 6% could explain it.
- After the theatre performances, 88% of surveyed audience members could accurately list at least two places they could access assistance for domestic violence, compared to 43% before the performance.
- After the theatre performances, 97% of audience members could accurately list strategies they might implement to prevent themselves from using violence, compared to only 36% before the performances.
Our Supporters
United Nations Development Program
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Creating Quality Learning Environments for Young People
Challenge
Most children in Timor-Leste do not have access quality non-violent education which hinders their social and economic advancement. With your support Ba Futuru, a local NGO, can bring quality education to many more young people.
Solution
Ba Futuru has been carrying out transformative work with teachers and school management committees. This work has turned many high need schools into quality learning environments. Our aim is to create happy, supportive, and safe school environments so that the young people would be able to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to create positive futures for themselves and their communities.
We encourage new styles of teaching rather than traditional rote models, enhanced in-school relationships, improved infrastructure, created better learning environments and reduced violence. Our work encourages teachers to stop using violent discipline and to replace this with positive classroom management strategies.
After Ba Futuru worked with their schools for 9 months, the students reported that their teachers made a good progress in their teaching methods. “Before hand, the majority of the teachers asked students to write or copy from the board without any explanation. But now they changed their teaching methods. They are using participatory methods such as asking comprehension questions, using group work, doing energizer activities, using games and explaining about the subject matter.”
A student representative from the School Management Committee of one target school reported: “From my point of view, the teachers have changed after they attended the training from Ba Futuru. Compared to previously when students were being punished, even bitten when they make a mistake in class or come to the school late. Some teachers just asked us to copy from the board without providing any clear explanations. Those that practice the new methods provide us with good explanations and it makes it easier to understand. And sometimes when we are getting bored, the teachers utilize games. I have also noticed that there is less physical punishment. I propose that Ba Futuru continue with the training of our teachers so they can improve their teaching methods.”
Long-Term Impact
Sustainability of outcomes has been enhanced through Ba Futuru’s the teacher training toolkit and the fact that the Ministry of Education, as well as target school administrators, teachers and teacher trainers can utilize the toolkit into the future. Films on each training module have been created so they can be shared widely with teachers that do not have access to in-person training.
- 10,000s of students are benefiting from Ba Futuru various educational programs that have trained 1,000s of teachers, from early childhood to University level
- 100s of children have received scholarships helping them gain the items they need for going to school
Help transform the learning environments of the young people of Timor-Leste
Breaking the Cycle of Violence
Inisiativa Konsolidasaun Dame no Demokrasia / Consolidating Peace and Democracy Initiative
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