On 26^th  January 2010 PRM SL Field and Liaison Officers of Barri Chiefdom made a follow-up visit on the GBV Workshop organized by PRM SL in October 2009 to assess the impact of the workshop conducted. The main objective of the workshop was to improve knowledge of local authorities and community members on the gender roles and responsibilities in promoting peaceful coexistence and development.^{<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />}

The workshop was sponsored by cordaid Netherlands as part of their contribution following the fire disaster of Saahun Village in May 2009. Other stakeholders from Agricultural sectors provided rice seeds for farmers whose seeds were burnt down during that disaster in may 2009. All these efforts were coordinated by cordaid and PRM SL Volunteer Peace monitors living in the villages around the areas.

During the follow up visit focus group discussions were conducted as is seen from the photograph above. During the discussions and field visits the team observed the following development:-

·         The knowledge acquired from the workshop were being put in practice by participants through  education of  community members about their roles and responsibilities toward individual members in the communities especially women, girls and children,

·         Normal economic activities is going on and farms have been harvested,

·         Road maintenance is in progress as this will help the inhabitants of the village to market their agricultural products,

·         The recommendations and action plan of the workshop are being implemented and monitored by communities include Volunteer Peace monitors, these include human rights educations during their meetings, women to be represented in all communities meetings and other social activities, parents to avoid early marriage and initiation of their girl child and girl child to be given equal opportunities like boy child in terms of education.

·         There has been some improvement of livelihood of the victims of the fire disaster at Saahun, but rehabilitation of their dwelling houses is still a challenge.  For example out 20 houses burned down five houses are under rehabilitated.

 

Finally, the Field Officers, Liaison Officers and volunteer Peace Monitors (VPMs) have organized their monthly meetings review and planning meeting at Saahun Village. In the meeting, reports from VPMs were presented, discussed, and action plan for the next month February 2010 were developed. Among the conflict reported include GBV, Family based, bush case, street fights and child abandonment by both parents.