Part V: Lessons learnt, the future 4.1 Lessons There is evidence of strong networking among the various stakeholders in the three districts. This strengthened the referral pathway. The project strengthened the consortium to better service and empower women and girls and the child care worker structure regarding children. Awareness raising campaigns contributed to the creation of safety nets for children. Door to door awareness campaigns also created a platform for the communities to be empowered and encouraged to attend meetings or empowerment sessions. In the process, the following have been the experiences gained, and lessons learnt: • Need to establish more safe shelters in all the three districts and enhance comprehensive service provision. • There is need for players outlined in the Protocol on the Multi-sectoral Management of Sexual Abuse and Violence in Zimbabwe (2012) by the Judicial Services of Zimbabwe to be swift in handling sexual abuse and violence matters to ensure justice to GBV survivors. There is need for continuous support of Victim Friendly Systems so that challenges facing GBV survivors are dealt with. • Communities are eager to participate in development issues concerning their areas. This is more so when their traditional leaders and government officials are involved in the projects. This was seen in many people, in excess of the invited members, turning up for the training and dialogue sessions in the three districts. • Continuous engagement of traditional leadership structures is necessary to significantly reduce cases of GBV against women and girls and protect the survivors. The traditional leaders involved in the projects showed that it is possible to work with them as change agents who will work to prevent GBV and ensure services to the survivors. Traditional leaders were key in engaging men and boys in raising awareness and mitigation of gender-based violence. Their involvement also opened doors for other community stakeholders such as the Community Focal Persons and Community Case Care Workers to effectively work in the communities. Traditional leaders are the gate keepers to the communities and this project made them part of the process of coming up with solutions and they are part of the process of enforcing laws and policies that protect women and children. • The project showed that the involvement of community volunteers such as Community Focal Persons is critical and effective in reaching out to communities with information of child protection and prevention of GBV as well as the protection of survivors. This is also sustainable as the CFPs remain in the communities after the project has concluded. • There is need for positive response to support girls returned from child marriages through provision of counselling and legal aid services. Child survivors of marriage need more and varied services in addition to counselling and legal services. Some