Fiji’s House of Sarah has recently introduced SASA! (Start, Awareness, Support, Action) Faith programme in Fiji.

SASA! Faith is a guide to preventing violence against women and HIV in faith- based communities and was co-created by Trócaire and Raising Voices based in Kampala, Uganda.

It is an initiative in which leaders, members and believers of a religion come together to prevent violence against women and HIV.

House of Sarah  chairperson and trustee Reverend Sereima Lomaloma said the community-led project encouraged everyone to reject violence as a normal part of life and commit themselves to changing their attitudes, behaviour and knowledge to build communities based on justice, peace and dignity.

She added that it was achieved by engaging women and men, girls and boys, cultural and religious leaders, local officials, Police, health-care providers and others to reflect on their own lives and relationships and how gender and power relations, and some of the interpretations of the Bible, can reduce violence.

Reverend Lomaloma said they had worked in the three Anglican communities at St Mark’s in Newtown, Nasinu, St Michael and All Angels in Matata, Lami and Wailoku in Suva as part of their effort to establish the SASA! Faith programme.

“We have already started working in Newtown with the community faith leaders and the response from the has been very encouraging,” she said.    

Last week they worked at St Michael and All Angels Parish at Matata.

They have also been working towards identifying potential community activists to work closely with the House of Sarah in the implementation of the SASA! Faith project.

The project is co-funded by the Fiji Women’s Fund and United Nations Women.

Edited by Percy Kean

Feedback: sheenam.chandra@fijisun.com.fj