Germany backs OYO’s ‘Speak Up’ project to tackle GBV

A new initiative aimed at addressing gender-based violence (GBV) in Namibia’s Hardap, Erongo and Omusati regions has received significant financial backing from Germany, with a contribution of approximately N$1.59 million.

The funding agreement was officially signed on 30 March by the German ambassador to Namibia, Thorsten Hutter, and the founder and director of the Ombetja Yehinga Organisation (OYO), Philippe Talavera.

The project is set to run until 31 December.

The ‘Speak Up’ project seeks to foster open conversations in schools and promote intergenerational dialogue within communities, focusing on mental health and positive masculinity as key tools in preventing GBV.

Hutter emphasised the urgency of sustained action against GBV. “We must not let up in our efforts in fighting gender-based violence wherever and whenever we can. Respect for fundamental human rights starts in families, classrooms and communities,” he said.

Arts-based approach

He further highlighted OYO’s creative approach, noting that the use of music, dance and play not only raises awareness among young people but is also supported by professional psychological and social services for those in need.

Talavera underscored the need for a more engaging and empathetic approach to the issue.

“GBV is everywhere in the news, in social media, in political discourse. We hear so much about it that, in the end, I wonder if we still pay attention,” he said. “This project, using the arts, will not add to the discourse. Instead, it will encourage participants to feel. If you can put yourself in the shoes of a survivor, you can react and you can change.”

He added that participants will play an active role in the programme, moving beyond passive observation to meaningful engagement, with the aim of learning healthier and more constructive behaviours.

The 'Speak Up' project aims to go beyond awareness by addressing the root causes of violence.

It promotes positive masculinity, challenges harmful cultural practices, and encourages individuals to become agents of change within their communities.

The programme includes school-based sensitisation campaigns, intergenerational dialogues, individual counselling, and the distribution of a specially developed comic book designed to educate and empower teenagers.

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