CEE HOPE provides shelter for women escaping abuse in Lagos' poorest areas. Courageous survivors help create light in darkness, and take on the fight against gender-based violence.
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00:00Here in the Makoko community of Lagos, Faith Okbonna is turning her pain into purpose.
00:07Women in this room are survivors of gender-based violence, including Faith.
00:11She has dedicated her life to educating and supporting women who feel trapped, helping
00:16them reclaim their voices.
00:18Gender-based violence are in different forms, and the majority of the time it has to be
00:24with people very close to you.
00:25People that should protect you are now the ones hurting you.
00:29Faith's work, and that of others like her, is a beacon of hope in the battle to stop
00:33gender-based violence.
00:35According to the World Health Organization, one in three women worldwide will experience
00:39physical or sexual abuse in their lifetime, a staggering reality.
00:43I was raped from the age of five until I was 17, ranging from cousins to uncles to nephews
00:53to aunties.
00:54It was a gang rape, and it was a bitter experience because it happened right under my father's
01:03roof.
01:04If C-HOPE can bring me out of the darkness, I can do the same to other people.
01:11The Centre for Children's Health, Education, Orientation and Protection, or C-HOPE, is
01:16one of four privately-owned shelters in Lagos.
01:19Founded by journalist Betty Abba in 2013, the NGO provides refuge for survivors of abuse
01:24like Vivian.
01:28My mum died nine years ago, and my mum's elder sister came to pick her up.
01:34So on this fateful day, I was the one who came back at night.
01:39He came to our room, so he raped me, kept on molesting me for three good years, since
01:45when I was 12.
01:47My cousin called some of the policemen at our site, we went to the police station, and
02:00they detained him, and now he's still in the court.
02:05Many children in this community centre experience violence and trauma.
02:08They are taught skills, counselled and educated about gender-based violence.
02:13The hope is to end the cycle of violence.
02:16I want girls who are being abused to come out of their shells, out of the darkness.
02:21I want them to have a life, the life they've always dreamed of.
02:26Because in this trauma, they can't have that life.
02:30Symbolising unity and resilience, cultural dance is integrated into today's campaign
02:35for the children, drawing more children in and making it a memorable day.
02:40But the fight is far from over.