We Support: 10 Million Strong
Gender inequality is a huge issue throughout Papua New Guinea where women and girls experience some of the world’s highest rates of violence outside of a conflict zone with PNG ranking 161st on the UN Gender Inequality Index and 135th on the Global Gender Gap Index. Human Rights Watch (2021) reported that a woman is beaten every 30 seconds in PNG and more than 1.5 million people experience gender-based violence in the country each year; 75% of children experience violence at home.
At the Sir Brian Bell Foundation, we are always looking for ways to educate communities on creating a gender-inclusive PNG and ending gender-based violence. We are proud to continue our partnership with Grass Skirt Project who has developed the pilot program called 10 Million Strong which is a new innovative approach to challenging gender-based violence in the community. Starting at Badihagwa High School in Port Moresby, a mix of 20 male and female students were selected to be taken through a series of specially developed lessons to identify gender-based violence and its adverse effects and express disapproval towards damaging practices.
The pilot program ran for 3 months with a goal to extend this impactful initiative to additional schools and communities across Papua New Guinea, fostering a nationwide movement to eradicate gender-based violence and empower young individuals to become agents of positive change. The Grass Skirt Program team will take students through a range of speciality-formulated interactive activities which will introduce new ideas, encourage questioning of outdated beliefs, and ultimately help alter harmful attitudes causing violence against women in our communities. Students will be provided with a diary to track each session and take notes as well as track their physical activity, improvements, and thoughts about how they position themselves within the community to understand the importance of individual leadership.
As a Key Delivery Partner to the 10 Million Strong Program, the Sir Brian Bell Foundation supported the Grass Skirt Project to educate our communities on gender-based violence and create a more inclusive and safe PNG for women and Girls. Thank you to the Grass Skirt Project team for your continuous commitment to ending GBV in Papua New Guinea.
