No Means No Worldwide
Empowering young people to build resilience
No Means No Worldwide (NMNW) is an international non-governmental organisation that aims to combat sexual and gender-based violence against women and children. In this respect, it focuses on both girls and boys. The initiative is growing. Dioraphte provides support to NMNW to enable it to expand as an organisation in a healthy way.
NMNW is training local instructors to coach young people aged between 10 and 20 years old by using the tried and tested successful No Means No methodology. Through the training, the girls increase their assertiveness, learn to set boundaries and acquire knowledge about their rights. At the same time, they learn the verbal and physical skills necessary to defend themselves should the need arise. Boys learn how to interact on the principle of equality and how to avoid coercion. It teaches them to seek consent, as well as to take action themselves should they witness sexual violence. NMNW encourages young people to share their experiences and offers referral opportunities if they need help.
Self-defence is about self-esteem
‘The young people we train are not taught karate or taekwondo by us. Instead, we tell them that self-defence is in everything you do, say or believe to protect your own safety. What can you do, what can you say, what are your convictions? Do you believe you deserve to be defended, yourself? Yes, I believe I deserve to be defended! Do you believe you can shout the loudest? Yes, I can shout the loudest! If you offer them this, all the young participants become genuinely very eager to learn.’
NMNW Instructor, Uganda
Like an oil slick
Since the partnership began in 2019, with the help of more than 80 partners in seven African countries around 300,000 young people have received training. This contribution makes it possible to extend and enhance programmes in Uganda, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia, and to launch new programmes in Botswana and Tanzania.
Healthy future growth
The organisation is ambitious. Not only is NMNW looking to increase the number of partnerships even further, they are also keen to improve the overall quality and effectiveness of training even further. In addition, NMNW is also exploring the use of technology for scaling up, efficiency and innovation. In this respect, it has a strong focus on continued growth while retaining a healthy organisational culture. While stability is an important prerequisite, so too is securing better fundraising opportunities and improving communication. And by contributing to a solid foundation, Dioraphte aims to give NMNW the opportunity to broaden its reach. And thereby help large groups of young people in Africa to become more resilient.