By Fatou Sillah
The Women Journalists Association (WoJAG) officially launched the Empower Her Voice: Building Capacities for Change project on Thursday at a local hotel in Kololi. The initiative, which is fully funded by the American Embassy in Banjul, has a budget of $15,000.
This project aims to equip women in the media with essential skills to advocate against sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) while promoting the rights of women and girls in The Gambia. It will offer reporting grants and technical support to women journalists, enabling them to conduct in-depth investigations and produce impactful stories addressing SGBV.
At the launch ceremony, Annette Camara, President of WoJAG, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to championing the rights of women and girls, particularly within the media.
“As we celebrate this groundbreaking initiative, we must also embrace our collective responsibility. The fight for gender equality, dignity and respect for all Gambians demands our unified voices and relentless action today. We affirm our commitment to standing in solidarity with each other and to supporting and empowering every woman who dares to tell her story, challenge the status quo, and inspire change,” She Said.
United States Ambassador to The Gambia, Sharon L. Cromer, emphasized that empowering women and girls is a top priority for the US government.
“The empower her voice project is one example of the US Embassy’s dedication to empowering women; however, it is more than just a project; it is a step towards amplifying the voices of vulnerable women and girls. The Gambia needs voices that highlight the harmful practices such as female genital mutilation and sexual and gender-based violence,” she said.
Bakary Y. Badjie, the Minister of Youth and Sports, highlighted the importance of the project in giving women a stronger voice.
“The Empower Her Voice Building Capacity for Change project will equip women journalists with essential skills to lead in amplifying women’s rights and standing firmly in the fight against sexual and gender-based violence. This funding will help ensure that women journalists have the tools they need to thrive in impactful storytelling, advocacy and reporting,” he said.
Isatou Keita, Vice President of the Gambia Press Union, stated that the Empower Her Voice project marks a significant advancement towards creating a media environment that values and includes women’s voices.
“The empower her voice is not just about helping women Journalists do their jobs, to me, it is more about giving them the support they need to tell the stories that matter—stories that expose injustices, change harmful practices like FGM, and fight for the rights of venerable women and girls. By giving these women journalists these tools back with the support of the US Embassy, we are sending a clear message that women’s perspectives in the media are essential to building a fairer and stronger society,” she said.
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