Awareness-raising is a process that seeks to inform and educate people about a topic or issue with the intention of influencing their attitudes, behaviours and beliefs towards the achievement of a defined purpose or goal. It can mobilize the power of public opinion in support of an issue and thereby influence the political will of decision makers. There are multiple awareness-raising strategies, methods and tools that can be used to convey and spread messages, and to gather the support necessary to influence public opinion.
WOCO is a women led National Non-Governmental Organization established and registered in 2011 at the State Level, and later registered at the national level as an organization championing for Child Protection, prevention and response to GBV issues as well engagement of women and girls in empowerment programs to become self-reliant. WOCO’s geographical areas of coverage are Malakal PoC and Fashoda counties (Malakal PoC site and Kodok Payams).
WOCO has conducted several awareness raising efforts on various topics like nutrition and hygiene, GBV, Child protection concerns, child rights, child labor, education among others. this has been achieved through various activities including mass awareness public campaigns on streets and borehole or water collection points market areas and churches, it has also been done through community-based child protection activities like community dialogues, better parenting sessions. disseminating reports, studies and publications; making written or oral submissions to parliamentary committees and inquiries; working with the media; holding public meetings and events; convening conferences and workshops. Information may be disseminated through a range of different means or tools such as radio, television, video, film, the internet, social media, mobile phones, newspapers, newsletters, leaflets, poster campaigns and the arts.
Awareness raising approaches generate knowledge of relevant issues and reach many people at a relatively low cost through providing information to challenge gender norms or by attaching stigma to unwanted behaviours, they can support positive norms and prompt reflection on harmful norms that drive Violence against women and girls especially in the context of Malakal, a place prone to conflict.
Awareness raising approaches has help publicize relevant laws and policies, which can send the message that violence is unacceptable and can support movements for women’s rights, children’s rights and create an enabling environment for women and girls to exercise their rights.
