In response to the urgent need for Gender-Based Violence (GBV) emergency services, NoFYL, with support from UNICEF, has established and deployed three specialized mobile outreach teams across Bardheere, Belet-Xaawa, and Dollow districts. These roving teams, comprise of trained caseworkers and psychosocial support (PSS) counselors, work tirelessly to deliver immediate and comprehensive support to survivors of GBV. Since their establishment, the mobile teams have significantly impacted the lives of survivors, providing essential medical, psychosocial, and other support to survivors of GBV and conducted community outreach and awareness campaigns to educate residents about available services, prevention strategies, and linking survivors to crucial support services within NoFYL’s one-stop centers and safe spaces for women and girls.
In December 2023, as Muslimo* and her family grappled with the aftermath of the floods, losing their livestock and home, their future seemed bleak. With six children to care for and no resources, Muslimo faced the additional challenge of being four months pregnant and experiencing abdominal pain, after she was physically abused by her husband. Displaced from her home in Iftin IDP camp, Muslimo, a 35-year-old woman, encountered a lifeline through NoFYL’s mobile outreach team,
“I was worried that my I did not have any money to take myself for treatment when I started complaining of pain,” Muslimo shared. “It was great to receive the NoFYL team’s free health checkup and medication at the GBV one-stop center. I can now be confident with my unborn baby because of the advice I received and the assurance of getting free service from trained nurses at the facility.”
Upon meeting Muslimo outside her tent, the outreach team provided a quick assessment and referred her to the GBV one-stop center. There, a nurse diagnosed her and provided medication to ease her pain. The team’s continuous support didn’t end there; they ensured she received follow-up checks every two weeks.
Hafsa Hussein leads the mobile outreach team in Doolow. They have become a critical linkage point for survivors to access protection and critical medical and mental health support at the WGSS in Kabasa IDP site. Twice a week, Hafsa and her colleagues go house to house to provide information sessions on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and child protection. Muslimo, is one of the many survivors that Hafsa and her team were able to reach during one of their community outreach sessions at the Kabasa IDP camp.
“They explained all the support services available, and they helped me make the decision that was best for me,” Muslimo shared. “I didn’t know there was help for women like me. They team is always available when you need them. We have their personal numbers in case we have emergencies especially at night and they do not hesitate to coordinate assistance for us,” said Muslimo.
Muslimo’s life changed the day she encountered NoFYL’s mobile outreach team. She now encourages others to seek help and even volunteers to assist the outreach teams on visits to the site. “I am grateful for the people who came to my village that day. Without them, I wouldn’t have known there was a way out,” she said. “They gave me hope when I thought there was none. They saved my life.”
“The work we do is not only about providing immediate help,” says Hafsa, who leads the outreach team in Doolow. “It’s about changing mindsets, helping survivors reclaim their lives, and creating a community where everyone feels safe to speak out,” she shared. “I’ve seen so many people realize for the first time that they have options, that there’s a way out of the cycle of violence. Thanks to our mobile outreach, we’re seeing more cases being reported,” Hafsa added. When necessary, the outreach teams provide referrals to specialized care, ensuring that survivors receive holistic support tailored to their individual needs. The mobile outreach teams successfully engaged 28,350 individuals through door-to-door visits and group awareness sessions, as well as by distributing dignity kits and solar lanterns, providing tie-dye training, and delivering case management services.
The mobile outreach teams tirelessly continue their efforts, visiting remote areas, connecting with women survivors, and offering unmatched support in communities where GBV survivors often go unheard and unseen. Their work underscores the transformative power of outreach, proving that even the most isolated survivor can find support when services come to them. In Bardheere, Belet-Xaawo and Doolow, these teams embody hope and resilience, ensuring that no survivor is left without access to essential assistance.
Outreach Team Photos:
