WHO WE ARE

Power To Choose is a project under Nchekwa Oha Advocacy Foundation, for more information on the Foundation please visit www.nchekwa-oha.org. We are a holistic domestic violence service for victims and perpetrators who might be either adults or children under 18 years old. We work together with the stakeholders and the community in building positive relationship between individuals within domestic household.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

Power To Choose believe that all individuals have a right to a Safe life and our community has a DUTY to promote this right.
Power To Choose identifies women as the primary victims of domestic violence while acknowledging that male victims are on the increase. Power To Choose believes that violence on child domestic workers remains on the increase therefore a lot more resources needs to be identified to help the children support workers in making sure that the children are helped while their abuses are made to face the justices system. It is the result of an abuse of power and control, and is rooted in the historical status and inequality of women in society.

WHAT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?

Power To Choose defines domestic violence/abuse as an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence which can be perpetuated from one member of a domestic household to another member thereby including domestic house workers, children and adults within the household.
According to Violence Against Persons Act 2015, Domestic violence/abuse can include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Coercive control (a pattern of intimidation, degradation, isolation and control with the use or threat of physical or sexual violence) – Sec 1 (1), Sec 2 (1), Sec 3, Sec 4 (1), Sec 18 (1),
• Psychological and/or emotional abuse – Sec 5 (1), Sec 14 (1), Sec 13 (1), Sec 6 (1)
• Physical abuse – Sec 4 (1), Sec 10 (1), Sec 19 (1) – this sec is for spousal battery, Sec 6 (1) etc.
• Sexual abuse – Sec 1 (1), Sec 5 (1),
• Financial abuse – Sec 11 (1), Sec 12 (1),
• Harassment & Stalking – Sec 17 (1),
• Harmful Traditional Practice – Sec 20 (1), Sec 15 (1),
• Abandonment of Spouse, Children and other dependant without sustenance – Sec 16 (1)

As the face of domestic violence is gradually changing as women are been emancipated in speaking for themselves, it is the time to render services that are victim focused rather than gender focused. It is important to highlight that women remains disproportionately more victims than men however the number of male victims are rising and efforts must be made to avoid creating a community of survival of the fitness. The Nigeria Constitution is a powerful tool that might be seen as an encouragement in female abuse as women under some sections of Nigerian Constitution are not allowed to perform some tasks in the community for instance women cannot bail anybody out of prison in Nigeria.

Within the Igbo culture the leadership structure is very oppressive to women as women are not allowed within its leadership structure. This has the ability to encourage abuse from men to women as women are perceived as unequal. The dowry system has its contribution in encouraging abuse or violence towards women as women are seen as commodity that were paid for. Women themselves have to lead in eradicating some of the practices they (women) practice that promotes abuse and violence towards themselves like female Genital Mutilation, traditional practices towards widows etc.

It is the position of Power To Choose to highlight a domestic violence/abuse towards domestic workers who most of the time are children under the age of 18 years. The level of abuse towards this target group is very high and many adults (particularly women) within the Igbo community are perpetrators of this abuse towards their domestic workers although some are more serious than others hence the interest of Power To Choose towards such high profile cases of abuse or violence towards child house helpers.

SERVICES AVAILABLE

Group Work for Victims:

• Men/Women – We run a 12 weeks (short intervention) and 26 weeks, the 12 weeks intervention focuses on very practical support in helping the victim in moving forward while the 26 weeks intervention is about finding the root of the victim becoming a victim with the intention of addressing such root reasons. The victim is encouraged to explore his or her childhood particularly her/his home or community at the time while comparing it with her/his present home and community.
• Child – We run 8 weeks program for children within their school premises or community depending on the assessment of the available venues. This program is to help the child to re-think some of the issues within his or her environment while teaching them how to be safe.
• One to One Sessions – This is tailor-made for individuals that are unable to function within group activity.
• We run an 18 weeks Special program for child domestic violence victims who are compelled into child labour due to lack of government support for their parents.

Group Work for Perpetrators:

• Men/Women – We run 26 weeks prepertrator’s program and expect the clients to attend all sessions. If a client is still in relationship, we will have their partner in a program with us for the duration of their partner’s program. This helps to build an understanding for the victim around the work their partner is undergoing. This is a 3 hours weekly program with a lot of work for the client to complete. This program is available to individual within a domestic house hold for instance mother-in-law, father-in-law, partners, adult children, children etc.
• One to one sessions – This can only be carried after careful assessment as group work helps most perpetrators to come to terms with their behaviour and begin the progress of change.
• We run a 12 weeks Special Service for child domestic workers who perpetrates violence on younger children they are meant to look after.

Stand Alone Programmes:

• Anger Management Program
• Drug and Alcohol Intervention
• Parenting Program

Refuge:

• Emergency Accommodation for female victims and their children under 18 years old only. The accommodation will only be for 2 months in order to allow the victim secure a more appropriate living arrangement with their worker’s support as a way of avoiding serious harm to female victims and their children. There will be 5 homes in the 5 Igbo states thereby making sure that most women will have a choice of accommodation outside of their home state.

RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS

We aim to work in partnership with some stakeholders in order to prove necessary evidence that will help in informing the community about the dangers of domestic violence while supporting policies makers and legislators on how to improve or amend legislations that around issues of domestic violence or any other legislation that might help in the reduction of domestic violence. We also engage with traditional rulers in identifying negative cultural practices and eradicating them while we promote positive practices within the Igbo Community.

TRAINING & EVENTS

We provide trainings to interested individuals or organisations. Our individual trainings are for people that want to set up their own domestic violence services while organisational training is helping corporate organisations to meet the needs of their staff who might becoming victims of domestic violence in their homes.

Proposed events for the coming years:

• 8^th March 2016 – Igbo Perspective on Domestic Violence lead by traditional rulers – Hosted by Anambra State
• 8^th March 2017 – Domestic Violence and Children to be hosted by Ebonyi State
• 8^th March 2018 – Domestic Violence and Men to be hosted by Abia State
• 8^th March 2019 – Domestic Violence and Women to be hosted by Imo State
• 8^th March 2020 – Evaluation of Power To Choose Project and plan for the next 5 years

GET INVOLVE

• Donate Money – Give regularly or donate today, to help us continue in building positive relationship within our household.
• Fundraise – Talk to us to see if you will be inspired with ideas and tips in organising fundraising events.
• Take Action – Join us in our campaign
  • Current Campaign – Asking members of state house of assembly to domesticate Violence Against Persons Act 2015. We will be handing over the Act to Rt. Honourable Deputy Speaker Ugonna Ozuruigbo (aka Ozb) the Act to be domesticated in Imo State. The Deputy Speaker has agreed to champion the domestication of the Act in Imo state. Collect signatures from your community to present it to your LGA member to support Deputy Speaker when it is called for voting in the house.
  • If you are from another state other than Imo state please ask you member if they will like to champion the domestication of the Act in your state. We will support them with the process by providing the necessary resources to make it go through.
  • Download a copy of the Act by Clicking Here.
• Donate Goods – Please use the contact details below to donate goods that can be used in supporting women and children who does not have resources. We welcome unperishable goods like cloths, tin food etc., every help goes a long way in helping a victim and his/her children.

CONTACT US

General Coordinator PTC
Phone: 07018887708
Email: ptc.gc@nchekwa-oha.org

 PTC Coordinator Ebonyi State
Phone: 07015225708
 Email: ptc.ebonyi@nchekwa-oha.org

PTC Coordinator Enugu State  
Phone: 07010962315
 Email: ptc.enugu@nchekwa-oha.org

PTC Coordinator Anambra State  
Phone: 08022312191
 Email: ptc.anambra@nchekwa-oha.org

PTC Coordinator Abia State  
Phone: 07084101688
 Email: ptc.abia@nchekwa-oha.org

PTC Coordinator Imo State  
Phone: 07082655282
 Email: ptc.imo@nchekwa-oha.org