Core Area One

Mobilizing Communities and Inspiring Activism to Prevent and Respond to VAW/G

Core Area One: Mobilizing Communities and Inspiring Activism to Prevent and Respond to VAW/G


We want to inspire community activism to prevent and respond to VAW/G; creating communities where VAW/G is not acceptable.
In the recent past, a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) of CEDOVIP’s SASA! work was conducted in Makindye and Rubaga divisions, Kampala. CEDOVIP’s community mobilization work is based on implementation of the innovative SASA! methodology, which explores the use of power.

SASA! is a groundbreaking community mobilization approach for preventing VAW/G and HIV/AIDS. Designed around the ecological model of violence, SASA! recognises that intimate partner violence results from the complex interplay of factors which operate at the individual, relationship, community, and societal levels, and that if effective change is to be achieved, it is important for interventions to systematically work with a broad range of stakeholders within the community.

SASA! involves four phases, with each building on the previous one and including more people, with the aim of creating a critical mass that will change social norms.

CEDOVIP’s community mobilization consists of the following:

A. Local activism

Working with community members to think about how they use power in intimate relationshipsCEDOVIP trains and mentors men and women from the community to conduct various events e.g. door to door activities, quick chats, games, and community theatre that will make people question negative social norms and motivate creation of positive norms and systems to prevent and respond to VAW/G

B. Working with education institutions

Creating an environment to prevent and respond to VAW/G among young people in higher institutions of learning, especially reducing levels of sexual violenceCreation of violence-free environments in education institutions and relationshipsCEDOVIP is partnering with other civil society organizations working in this area to enhance their efforts

C. Working with opinion leaders

Creating an environment to prevent and respond to VAW/G among young people in higher institutions of learning, especially reducing levels of sexual violenceCreation of violence-free environments in education institutions and relationshipsCEDOVIP is partnering with other civil society organizations working in this area to enhance their efforts