My name is Napuli Cicilia a female born in Nasinyon village, in lopuyo parish, Rengen Sub County belonging to Longesia Nakoros Resilience Action Committee (RAC).
I must give a big thank you to USAID-Apolou activity for empowering me to be an activist in creating change in my family, community and society at large.
05 year ago, my parents forced me to marry a man of their choice and yet I had my own. In Karamoja it is believed that the parents are the best people to choose for their children marriage partners which I feel is not true. After several trials, I insisted and married my own husband who brought a lot of pain to me and misery to the family. My parents did not believe that and I was beaten thoroughly and left with a lot of bruises and injuries. I did not know where to report or run to so I stayed home until I healed. I insisted and married a man of my choice.
When Apolou activity came in and formed Resilience action committee a structure in which I happen to belong and actively involved I got of information. During group dynamics training, Senstization on SGBV (Sexual and Gender Based Violence) referral pathways and community dialogues on human rights as well as women and youth rights. My brain opened up and I got to understand that first having been beaten was dehumanizing me as a human being and then attempt for forced marriage was a another human rights abuse. I also got to understand the different referral pathways for different cases including SGBV for example LC1s, Police, Elders forum, Health unit among others.
As a structure, we do community Senstization on various aspects such as GBV and conflicts, we mediate and support conflicting families and individuals to reconcile, sensitize on WASH among others and as a result I am able to participate actively in the group, at home and community for example I am able to now inform, guide and counsel girls and boys who are still ignorant about their rights, I also refer cases beyond my understanding to other stakeholders including police.
I have the strength and courage that have made me able to educate my parents on such bad cultural practices over and over and through these continuous talks, they are gradually changing and they have promised never to force any of my siblings to marry partners of their choice. My sisters of recent got married to husbands of their choices and I am grateful for contributing to that change in my family.
As an informed and empowered individual already it will be my duty to continue spreading the gospel so that the next generation is an informed and empowered generation that does not violate human rights. I will continue to work with my colleagues, LC1 and community.
Big thank you to Apolou-NARWOA for giving me such a chance to realize my potential in changing the society.