This project seeks to build the young girls', the survivors', the community's, and the authorities' capacity to prevent and to combat violence against women.
Inwelle Catch-Them-Young Virtual Village Square project will focus on educating these girls and giving them skills to enable them earn livable wages in order to alleviate the suffering they face in seeking to get education. They will be trained in various aspects of Information Technology, including MS office package, Internet surfing, Adobe CS Suite, Web Design, Computer Repair, hosting interactive websites, blogging, etc.
The project's innovation comes from using the internet to connect young girls, aged 15 – 17, and older women survivors of domestic violence. In Enugu, Nigeria peri-urban and rural areas, it is commonplace for young, vulnerable girls to marry as a meansto get out of poverty. It is equally common for such marriages to result in physical and emotional spousal abuse, and even death.

The "Catch Them Young" project aims to empower girls on multiple levels: through acquisition of computer skills to access and use the Web to view stories from women survivors and engage in dialogue; through sharing their personal stories; and through on-line forums that offer support services, advise, and counseling. The relative anonymity of virtual dialogue will enable participants to honestly exchange ideas, provide richer and deeper insights on spousal abuse, and provide an outlet for young girls to discuss violence perpetrated against them– a taboo topic, thereby helping them to uncover misconceptions and understand their rights. The activities of this project will be documented and disseminated through the internet, journal article publications, and presentations to expose the plight of these girls. project aims to empower girls on multiple levels: through acquisition of computer skills to access and use the Web to view stories from women survivors and engage in dialogue; through sharing their personal stories; and through on-line forums that offer support services, advise, and counseling. The relative anonymity of virtual dialogue will enable participants to honestly exchange ideas, provide richer and deeper insights on spousal abuse, and provide an outlet for young girls to discuss violence perpetrated against them– a taboo topic, thereby helping them to uncover misconceptions and understand their rights. The activities of this project will be documented and disseminated through the internet, journal article publications, and presentations to expose the plight of these girls.
The activities will also generate the evidence that will be used as part of the persuasive materials for advocating serious monitoring and implementation of the Nigerian law against early marriage. Up-scaling will involve extending the project to other regions of the country to help other child victims, and promote social and legal change

THE TRANSFORMATIONMy name is X (We removed her name). I am a native of Achi in Oji River local government area of Enugu state. I am the second child in the family of six to Mr. and Mrs. XY (We removed the family’s name)I grew up as an obedient young girl, but it didn’t last long because I started keeping bad company and because I was a novice and also naïve they were able to lead me to the wrong track and I started living a rough life. After my SSCE exam, I became pregnant, and I gave birth to a wonderful baby girl {Sochima by name}. After the birth of my baby, I thought that I won’t be able to pursue my dreams, but it was like I have lost everything.Then the transformation day came, the day of a new beginning and the dawn /time of a new era, and it took its place at the police station where the director of INWELLE CENTER saw me, brought me to the Centre and counseled me there, gave me a golden opportunity and made me turn a new leaf. Right now, I am independent, I can now operate a computer system, and I am looking forward to a bright future awaiting me and my little angel. I pray and I am working towards making my baby grow into a responsible girl with all the necessary education qualifications with the income I am earning from INWELLE CENTER.
THANKS INWELLE CENTER.

• ONWUZULIKE CHINENYE COMPREHENSIVE REPORT

  I STARTED MY SKILL AQUSITION ON 21 OCTOBER, 2019.
  
  FIRST WEEK: I learnt how to draw arc using eye pencil, and I was taught some step on how to make up, how to weave and how to plait dread.
  SECOND WEEK: I learnt how to make wig, how to do make up and how to paint nails.
  THIRD WEEK: I was taught how to do make up, how to draw arc and make wig and how to fix weave-on.
  FOURTH WEEK: I was taught how fix hair.
  And I hope if I continue I will learn more thing like weaving, more makeup, how to fix eye lashes, how to plait dread very well, how to weave hair and fix weave-on etc.

• OGBU CHINWENDU LOVETH COMPREHENSIVE REPORT ON PRINTING PRESS SKILL TRAINING

  I STARTED MY SKILL AQUSITION ON 21 OCTOBER, 2019.
  
  MONTH ONE : My first day at work was just introductions on different works and programs in the shop. It was on binding, but different types of binding including soft and hard binding. I was also taught on how to type and print novels including constitutions and notice.
  MONTH TWO : I was taught on how to use the perforating machine and numbering machine in perforating and numbering of papers like tickets, receipt, results etc. I was also taught on how to create and design covers of novels, brochures. I was also taught on how to burn wedding plate and brochures plate using the burning machine, I was shown the chemicals used in removing stains which is the delete in full and other chemicals.
  MONTH THREE : I have already started working on bindings including soft and hard binding and I also participate in printing of projects and covering them using hard cover, the if anybody need spine on it, I can also do that, I can also design covers on system using Corel draw.
  MONTH FOUR : Throughout this week we were occupied with programs on brochures for burials and weddings. And we continued in perforating and numbering of papers and about 150 of them.
  MONTH FIVE : We are now creating many materials because it is Christmas. We also printed t-shirts for people who have marriage celebration and other activities such as traditional dances.
  MONTH SIX : Things are slow. People came back from Christmas celebration. We are waiting for Easter when people will need a lot of things. Only the churches are printing flyers. I have learned so much. The director has promised that if I prove that I have learned enough to teach other girls she will buy the machine and set up a printing press in one of the rooms.
  

I’m a young girl of 22 years old, from Onitsha in Anambra state. I came from a family of four (4) and I am the second (2nd). Before coming to Inwelle Centre, I was living with my parents who catered for me and my siblings the way they could. My mum is a primary school teacher and as it was then, she was the one training us because my father has nothing doing. We were managing anyhow until things became more difficult for us when my mother could no longer afford our three square meal, let alone affording our school fees due to reduction in teachers’ salary and she was left with no other option than to send one of us out to go and to live as a helper to somebody and I was the one chosen among all my other siblings and that was when my struggle began.

I left my parents to live with one of my aunties (Paternal) who promised to take proper good care of me and also assured us that I would get standard education. But it seems everything turned the other way round. Instead of the quality education she promised, I was then sent hawking pure water every morning while her own children who are almost of the same age with me will be at the school studying. And the most painful part is that I was just six (6) years of age when all these were happening. The husband is just a business man who doesn’t stay around all the time to witness all that was happening but luckily for me, he came back one certain time and saw me hawking pure water instead of going to school and he asked his wife why and her reply was that her children are better than me because I wasn’t born with a silver spoon and so therefore I don’t have the right to go to school and that while her children are still going to school that I have to wait until her children finish their primary school before I can start mine. The husband was so angry at her that he nearly beat her. I was surprised at the husband’s reaction because I thought the husband was even aware of me not going to school. I was very happy the next morning when her husband took me along with the children to register me at the same school that his children do attend but the wife insisted that she would do it herself and so the husband handed over everything to her telling her to do as she has promised. But unfortunately, the husband went back for a business trip that same day and I received a great torture that I have never received in my life.

I was sent to bed on an empty stomach. Even before that, I was sent to kneel down under the hot afternoon sun and was whipped 26 strokes of cane under the same sun. Even upon that, she called me a witch saying that I have charmed her husband so that he can start school for me. I was so bitterly touched because my parents have never used such word on me, let alone using it while I am innocent. At a time, I came to think of what she said (that I wasn’t born with a silver spoon) and that made me cry to my God telling God to come and rescue me from this suffering. Later after two weeks I was being enrolled in one of the school in that village (Asagba primary school Asaba Delta state) and was meant to start from nursery school at the age of eight (8) while her own children have entered junior secondary school. Even before I go to school I will first of all prepare her last child who was 11 years then (three years older than me) then I will wash all her children’s cloth, including my auntie’s own and then sell some pure water before going to school. Before I will then reach school, 3 subjects have been taught which made me perform poorly at the end of every term. Despite she is the cause of my failure, she still flogs me saying that I am wasting her money for her that I will not see the four walls of the school again. But I managed to finish my primary education before telling her that I want to go back to my parents since I don’t have anybody to report to. When my parents arrived, she laid a complaint to them that I used to steal her money and that’s why she sent me packing. But due to the confidence my parents had in me, they asked me privately when we got home and I told them my whole experience. They were so shocked that my mum could not hold her tears other than to let it flow. My dad lamented bitterly that whenever he calls to ask of me, that she normally tells him that I am fine, not knowing that her daughter was in great pain. And that was when my mum swore that she will never let any of her child out again instead we will manage even if it’s borrowing or begging instead.

I stayed with my parents throughout my secondary education although it wasn’t easy. I finished my secondary education in 2016 i.e. four (4) years ago but I haven’t been able to enter the university due to financial issues, and I guess my mates are in their final year while I am still wondering what I would do. Due to the inability of my parents training me further in the higher institution, I decided to work as a receptionist in a hospital but the salary was still not enough to feed let alone paying for my JAMB exam to go to a higher institution (I was only paid N8,000). I was living that way until I came in contact with Prof. Christiana Okechukwu who told me about academic boot camp usually conducted in July/august of which I participated in the Maid Strong academic boot camp in 2018. And after that I was qualified to be one of Safe Haven girls and I lived in the Centre at Enugu. I was sponsored to acquire a bakery skills by the centre. I learnt many things like how to bake cake, meat pie and how to make chin – chin e.t.c. and the skills I learnt will enable me to be an independent lady and start up my own business whenever I enter the university. The centre also paid for my JAMB exam last year, which is 2019 but unfortunately I came in contact with a man who wanted to ruin my life and that was how my predicament started.

I met a man who promised to marry and take care of me throughout my university level and I accepted, not knowing I was fooling myself then.(I was just 20) but before I got to all this, it was already late because I was already pregnant for the man, and that made me lose an opportunity I was given to enter the university. Up to now the man is nowhere to be found. And that was the greatest mistake I have ever made, and I have promised myself not to let such act repeat itself again. Everybody abandoned me then because of my misfortune, but thanks to Gods, Inwelle Centre came to my rescue again. And as it is now I am a single mother who cater for herself and the baby with the stipend I am being paid, which is not enough to take care of the baby. But I still appreciate it because half bread is better than none. All the other girls in Safe Haven helped me to take care of the baby now. Even with the baby, I still wish to further my education because education is life. And I would like to become a lawyer which is my dream aspiration since when I was a child but I don’t know if my dream will ever come true? Because as it is now, it looks as If all my dreams is being shattered because of one problem or the other. Inwelle Center has done and is still doing great things for me, and I will appreciate it if they still do more.
THANK YOU