By Gibao Brima
It is always said that a journey of one million miles starts with a first step and that there is no journey without speed bumps all the way.
Women In Crisis Movement (WICM), was formed in 1997 and registered in1999 as a faith-based non-governmental organization set up under the Directorship of Rev. Mrs. Julianna in a bid to address the needs of some economically disadvantaged and stigmatized women and young girls who are considered to be vulnerable to STIs/HIV/AIDS infections.
WICM’s activities are designed in a bid to help empower these target groups.
Through Behavioral Change Communication (BBC) and dissemination of Sexual and Reproductive Health messages to the affected, WICM has been providing their targets with skills that help them to make informed and responsible choices about their ( SHR) behaviors and for them to become self-reliant individuals.
Through a teamwork, WICM has moved from a makeshift tent office and it has now become to a well- structured and modernized NGO whose presence can be seen in Kono and Kailahun in the east of Sierra Leone, Pujehun in the south, Kambia in north- west, Kissy Dockyard, Fonima in Goderich, Mayenkineh in Calaba Town, Allen Town in the western area in rural Freetown respectively.
Presently a good number of the target population are undergoing skills and vocational trainings in different fields including Adult Literacy programmes.
The main focus of Women In Crisis Movement in the training is to improve on the status of women and young girls who are trapped in extreme social and economic difficulties.
WICM believes that through skills and vocational training, the promotion of messages on Gender Based Violence issues including a better access to Reproductive Health Services, STIs/HIV/AIDS fight can be defeated.
To make life further meaningful for the vulnerable, WICM has designed activities like skills and vocational trainings (handicraft, gara-tie dying, tailoring, hairdressing, catering and soap making as an alternative means of earning a living).
Their graduates from these disciplines are provided with certificates and start -up kits to help them start businesses on their own under the supervision of WICM.
Women In Crisis Movement target groups including victims of Sexual violence,
single parents mothers, commercial sex workers, disadvantaged female adolescents, women living with HIV/AIDS, and the vulnerable children.
Since the establishment of WICM, it has been in active partnership with
WHO, U NFPA, NAS/GLOBAL FUND, NACP, ACTION AID ,CCSL and GoSL.
It conducts it activities a partnership of appropriate through line ministries like education ministry, Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs, Youth and Sports and Health ministry.