Rhoda Precious Gbla

My name is Rhoda Precious Gbla and I started my career as human rights defender after I witnessed the brutal civil war in Sierra Leone. In 1999 the rebels entered the capital city of Freetown in Sierra Leone. They committed brutal atrocities including the burning of my family‘s residence. I have advocated for children, youth and women’s rights and supported various survivors of GBV and human/child trafficking. My work journey began in 2000-2002 as an Education Trainer with the Norwegian Refugee Council, training teachers for the implementation of the Rapid Response Education Project. I was the Advocacy and Case Management Officer at the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society Kambia branch supporting their integration of war affected youth into their communities. I provided leadership for over four years at the World Hope International Sierra Leone Recovery Center for Victims of Human Trafficking and Gender Based Violence (GBV). These experiences gave me the drive to pursue a Master’s Degree in Gender Studies in 2013 at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. Also, I have worked as District Inclusion officer-Kono and was responsible for training, monitoring and supervising teachers on the identification, reporting and response to School Related Gender Based Violence (SRGBV).Presently, I am the Program Director of the Amazonian Initiative Movement (AIM); a Woman led nongovernmental organization working against the total elimination of harmful practices against women and girls with a focus on FGM/Elimination which for a very long time affected the health and well- being of women and girls.