Megaphones and masks: how activists are adapting to COVID-19 in Mozambique
NAMPULA, Mozambique - Armed with a megaphone, mask and gloves, Denardina Mussa, 25, is on a mission: to encourage women and girls to report violence during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Ms. Mussa started working as an activist five years ago. She had heard of many girls who were raped, forced into an early union or murdered in her province…, CHANGING ONE MIND AT A TIME, Fear for her own safety and resistance from the communities are the hardest parts of the job, says Ms. Mussa. “Many people don’t want to acknowledge sexual violence,” she explains. “We receive threats of rape in the streets,” says another activist, Shamita Martins, 22. But this doesn’t stop them. Community leaders trained by Ophenta on preventing…, A MASK AND A MESSAGE, Ms. Mussa also takes part in COVID-19 prevention campaigns in public transport terminals, distributing masks to women, children and older people. With each mask, she delivers a vital message: “Use this mask to protect yourself from COVID-19, not to stay silent. Violence is a crime – report it!” Last year, Ophenta activists sensitized over 3,700…