Jonam Youth Development Initiative (JOYODI) is based at Kapita, along Wadelai road. The organisation has 8 years of experience in identifying and tackling community health needs. JOYODI has been providing  HIV prevention and mitigation services since  2009  in  Pakwach  Town Council and Panyango Sub County.

JOYODI increases individual awareness about Gender Based Violence (GBV) and the available avenues for seeking support through community sensitisation events. With over 30 Village Volunteers, JOYODI created a referral system that tracks and reports GBV and other health cases from the rural communities of Panyango Sub County.

Equal Voices, Equal Rights project seeks to challenge and deconstruct socio-cultural, political and economic barriers that hinder the ability of married women to realise their full potential in Pakwach Town Council. Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is a serious issue in Uganda as a whole but more pronounced in rural areas.

According to the Ministry of Gender, labour and social developments, more women (39%) have suffered effects of GBV as compared to men (11%). This is even more prevalent in marriage (62%). The common forms of GBV in Pakwach district include defilement, assault, rape, threats of violence, child neglect, and deprivation of property, widow inheritance, forced marital sex and forced early marriage. These are primarily fuelled by the patriarchal mindset of our society which has led to the power imbalance between males and females.

The project envisions increased partnership and collaboration with all key stakeholders to address GBV, community leaders trained and supporting advocacy against GBV, a platform created to enable quarterly or bi-annual dialogue on GBV with all stakeholders, improved referral and support for survivors and collective action planning for better GBV prevention.