Group makes shocking discovery in Rivers rural communities

…Children use emergency number to call for food instead of rescue

A community-based group concerned about sexual and gender-based attacks on young persons conducted training in some rural communities in Rivers State but met shocking revelations when they called for demonstration.

They found that the children used the numbers to call for food instead of rescue from sex abuse.

Mfon Utin, executive coordinator of Healthy Life Development Initiative (HELDi), Mfon Utin, said the shock came when the students enthusiastically demonstrated the “I need help” sign but modified it to “I need food.”

The training was for young persons especially girls to learn how to protect themselves by calling for help when in danger.

This was aimed at reducing sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Rivers communities found to be escalating to astronomical levels.

Utin said in a statement that the twist in priority highlighted the economic hardships faced by students and the challenging conditions within the community. “Poverty and difficult circumstances can make young people vulnerable to various forms of abuse beyond their control, reinforcing the need for continuous advocacy and support.”

She said one of the major challenges encountered during the programme was overcrowding, as the hall’s capacity was designed for about 200 students, yet nearly 500 students attended, probably hoping for food packages.

Despite this, she stated, approximately 450 students were successfully recorded in attendance.

Towards the end of the programme, nearly all participants, especially students, received the gifts as a token of appreciation and encouragement, along with helpline numbers to call whenever they needed help.

HELDi assured the principal that more books would be sent to students who did not receive them during the event. The gifts serve as important reminders of the key messages shared during the programme.

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Students, teachers, and community stakeholders pledged their commitment to spreading awareness and supporting survivors of SGBV as encouraged by the HELDi team. Many expressed appreciation for the knowledge gained and requested more programs of this nature in the future.

In the rural areas where politicians recruit supporters and protesters with food and financial handouts, most young persons tend to rush to any call for training, hoping it would end in food packs and transport support.

The sensitization programme this time was at Umuechem Community Senior Secondary School in Etche local council area of Rivers State was indicated as a resounding success, reaching over 500 students, teachers, and stakeholders. “This initiative marked a significant step towards combating SGBV within the community. The knowledge shared and the resources provided will empower students, teachers, and all participants to recognize, prevent, and respond to SGBV effectively.”

HELDi said it successfully conducted an awareness and sensitization programme on SGBV at Umuechem Community Senior Secondary School, Etche, and that the event sought to educate students, teachers, and other stakeholders about SGBV, its consequences, and preventive measures.

According to the Coordinator of HELDi, it was also to educate participants on the importance of reporting cases of abuse, promote a culture of respect and support among peers in the school and community, provide practical steps on seeking help in unsafe situations, share helpline numbers for reporting abuse, and distribute books to students.

The event was said to have begun with a welcome address delivered by Utin, who emphasized the need to address SGBV in schools and communities. The school principal, Amadi Daniel Ogundu, expressed gratitude to the organizers and encouraged students to participate actively in the sessions.

The sensitization sessions were facilitated by public health experts, Nwanikwoala Charity and Ndidi Amaka Elen, who led interactive discussions on understanding SGBV, identifying signs of abuse, and the importance of reporting and seeking help. Utin further highlighted the importance of recognizing help signs and support mechanisms, introducing participants to discreet signals that can be used in unsafe situations.

The discussion covered recognizing verbal and physical warning signs, seeking help from trusted individuals and authorities, and utilizing helplines and community resources.

She said: “HELDi remains committed to creating safe environments and empowering communities to tackle SGBV. The organization also extends its sincere appreciation to the principal and teachers for their support in managing and engaging students during the event.”

Since the conclusion of the programme, she added, some students have reached out seeking financial assistance for their needs and transportation, as many travel from neighbouring communities to the school.

Unfortunately, as a growing organization, she said HELDi does not currently have the capacity to support these requests. “However, any support towards these students would be highly appreciated, as economic hardships can increase students’ vulnerability to various forms of abuse.

“All the students engaged during the event were adolescents, a critical stage for intervention. It is essential to empower them early with the right knowledge and skills to prevent SGBV. HELDi deeply appreciates its funders for making this outreach possible and for their continued commitment to ensuring a safer future for young people.”

The critical discovery is that hunger and hardships seem to be thwarting messaging objectives to young people, requiring government to reassess their priorities and policy focus especially in rural areas where young boys are freely joining gangs and the girls seem to use what they have to get what they need; food.