NV! Delivery and content
forceful verbal
STIS
NV! is a sexual violence risk reduction intervention comprised of 10 sessions of 3.5 h each, delivered by two co-facilitators per group, and is described in a standardized manual [
Schematic presentation of NV! Sessions and content
Introductions and Group formation. To explain the purpose of Ntombi Vimbela (NV), how it works; what NV involves; To explore participants’ motivations for joining NV and what they hope to achieve with their participation; To introduce explore the concept of safety
To enhance communication and practice assertiveness skills. To explore emotional barriers to reacting assertively.
To encourage women to feel comfortable in their bodies, emphasise sexual rights, explore sex and consenting or non-consent, practice assertive sexual communication, overcome emotional barriers to reacting assertively and explore the different experiences of sex. To enhance awareness about contraception, STIs and condoms
To enhance understanding of societal expectations for gender (gender norms), explore how participants feel being treated differently from men and encourage challenging norms; To reflect on expectations within sexual relationships and explore some relationship challenges
To sensitize women on the different ways in which women can be badly treated by male intimate partners and non-partners; To explore emotional barriers to reacting assertively; To build awareness on laws, policies and services available for abused women.
To discuss the impact of stress on our health and well-being; To increase awareness of stressors, symptoms of stress and ways of managing stress that are helpful vs. unhelpful; To identify sources of support – both informal and formal within participants’ institution, community and networks.
To explore the concept of sexual assault risk, sensitize participants about sexual assault danger cues; To identify men’s attitudes and behaviours that increase the likelihood that they will attempt to sexually coerce or assault women; To share ideas and explore possible strategies to protect/escape from risky sexual assault situations.
To help participants recognise and overcome/reduce emotional barriers to defending oneself physically against sexual assault and ensure safety; To help participants to realise that there are more effective strategies, including forceful verbal and forceful physical resistance/self-defence strategies that can be used to avoid or resist sexual assault; To introduce WenDo self-defence tactics and the principles of “vulnerable points” which can be used to resist sexual assault situations
To build empathy for and self-awareness on social, peer pressures and participants’ need to fit in; To reflect on participant’s spending habits and how these pressures influence them; Practice a budgeting exercise and reflect on necessary vs. unnecessary expense and better manage money.