WARIF empowers 120 students with vocational skills and start-up grants

AS part of its efforts to equip young girls faced with challenges of maintaining school education, the Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF) has trained over 120 Secondary School students on various vocational skills as well as additional skill sets necessary to become empowered and financially independent.

The training, sponsored by USAID, brought together experts in Makeup, Shoe Making, Fascinator Craft, Jewelry, Baking and Soap Making to teach students on how to learn and become experts in such skills, so as to be able to generate an income by themselves. This initiative by WARIF further reinforces the organisation’s commitment to reducing the prevalence of sexual abuse in the society.

Speaking on the relevance of the training, Dr. Kemi Da Silva Ibru, Founder of WARIF, stated that vocational skills training is one of the key ways of  tackling the issue of financial independence of sexual abuse survivors: “The program  serves to empower young girls and women  and to address  the issue of the financial gap that exists with women who are in abusive relationships and situations but may not have vocational skills set and are forced to remain and make poor choices  due to this financial constraint.”

In addition to the skills acquisition programme organised by WARIF, the organisation also operates a Sexual Assault Referral Centre, a safe and secure facility, where all can walk in and trained staff are available to provide support to survivors through free medical care, legal aid, psycho-social counselling and social welfare; with the sole purpose of helping survivors overcome and heal from these traumatic events and ultimately live an independent and trauma-life free life. Survivors can also contact the Centre through a 24-hour confidential helpline (08092100009) for immediate assistance, counselling and support.

WARIF since its establishment has collaborated with governmental and non-governmental organisations to provide added services to survivors. It will continue to target the intervention and treatment of survivors of sexual violence, as well as, providing effective preventive measures towards reducing the problem of rape and sexual violence.