In promoting awareness of gender issues, Dar es Salaam University College of Education (DUCE) organized an enlightening training event titled "Let's Talk about Life" on December 9th, 2023. The event took place at the end of 16 days of activism which aims at eradicating gender based violence.
The event was attended by dynamic speakers including, Dr. Crescencia Masawe, Mr. Dotto Yothan and Dr. Nkuba Mabula. These professionals presented various topics on gender-based violence, sexual reproductive health and gender, male norms, relationship, and dating games.
The Coordinator of the Gender Research Centre, Dr. Crescensia Massawe, guided participants on a topic titled “Gender based violence and Academic Excellence”. A key focus of her session was unravelling the intricate link between gender-based violence and academic success. She explored the challenges that students may face and how these challenges can directly affect their academic performance. Dr. Masawe's discourse provided a deeper understanding of how gender-based violence, whether physical, emotional, or psychological, can create barriers to educational achievement.
Speaking on behalf of Binti Salha Foundation, Mr. Dotto Yothan described the link between gender based violence and academic life. Mr. Dotto underscored the long-term impact of online behaviour, cautioning participants about the potential consequences of sharing irresponsible content. He provided vivid examples of individuals who faced setbacks in their professional qualifications due to past immoral content shared on the internet.
Furthermore, Mr. Dotto advocated for responsible decision-making and encouraged the participants to prioritize health and well-being in their personal lives. Eventually, he shed light on the impact of gender-based violence (GBV) on reproductive health. Participants gained insights into how GBV can negatively affect the well-being of individuals, especially concerning issues related to sexual and reproductive health.
On the other hand, the Psychologist and the Senior lecturer, Dr. Mabula Nkuba, presented his topic on "Male norms, relationship, and dating games." He emphasized the need for peace in individuals' lives, open communication and financial transparency during relationship as crucial elements for successful and healthy connections.
Other than training, students participated in games, entertainments and face to face dialogue with facilitators and gender pioneers from other learning institutions.
