Development for Peace Organization (DPO) is undertaking a project entitled “Multi-sectorial Integrated Emergency Responses to Drought and Conflict-Affected households” in Gewane woreda of Afar region. This project is being implementing with the support obtained from Goal Ethiopia. The project that mainly focuses on the protection of women’s and children’s in the project intervention area incorporates providing awareness creation training on various topic, facilitating community dialogue, OVC fund support, dignity kit distribution, Women Friendly Space/ WFS and Child Friendly Space/CFS establishment and material supplies, Supplies for COVID 19 response, hygiene kits distribution, psycho-social support and case managements and others. As a result significant numbers of the community particularly women’s, girls and children’s are benefited from it.
Like many of the other girls, Ayat spoke about the challenges she faced and the role of DPO to address that particular challenge.
It’s been two years now since Ayat started to enjoy safer life. Being 13 years old and a student of grade 7 at Bilfro primary and secondary school seemingly put bad memory in her life than ever.
On the contrary, Ayat’s mother shows deepest interest to see her getting married and makes their family enjoy a way of life like their neighbors.
Her father in law also does share the idea of her mother.
Accepting this enquiry for Ayat meant getting one self-obstructing from achieving the yearlong vision.
It is with this view that she showed a firm stand for her family.
According to her, the frequent enquiry comes out from her mother exposed her to face stressful way of life than ever.
Of all those days, the community dialogue organized by Development for Peace Organization (DPO) in her Kebele brought her the good news.
That particular moment paved her the way out from the situation she used to face.
With this in mind, she decided to visit DPO Gewane FO.
The case worker who is in charge of handling similar cases by far gave her a green light to achieve her dream.
She was made to get psychological and other related preliminary support.
Apart from that, her visit to DPO office helped Ayat to obtain legal protection and other related support from Gewane district Women and Children Office and woreda police office.
As part of the move, the Gewane wereda police office also took time to discuss the case with her parents.
Following that, her mother showed regret and vowed not to force her child to get married. Not only that, she expressed readiness to support her to achieve her vision of [pursuing her education.
In doing so, Ayat extended her gratitude for the deeds of Development for Peace Organization (DPO).
“Had it not been DPO there, I wouldn’t have promoted to grade 8.” She uttered.
Not only that, she expressed her wishes to contribute her share on the same way what DPO has done for her in the future.
Most importantly, the support contributed a lot for her to develop self-confidence, motivation and even have a better communication skill that facilitates her hope to go forward.
For Development for Peace Organization (DPO), this track record brought a rewarding result to step up such efforts realized the dream of the many girls like Ayat.
