The community of Dalogyili in the Tamale Metropolis is embracing a powerful new tool in the fight against gender-based violence—public art. With support from GIZ under the S(HE) project, PureTrust Foundation has unveiled a series of murals designed to shift long-standing social norms and inspire residents to reject violence and embrace equality.
The artworks, painted across prominent community spaces, depict men and women sharing household responsibilities, participating in decision-making, and fostering peaceful homes—visual messages that reflect a growing commitment to harmony and gender balance.
At a community gathering themed “Our Home, Our Heritage: Rejecting Violence, Embracing Harmony,” residents, traditional leaders, youth groups and civil society representatives joined forces to reaffirm their dedication to ending sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Orange ribbons, testimonies, and collective pledges set the tone for a movement that is taking root at the grassroots level.
GIZ S(HE) project consultant, Ms. Patience Agyare-Kwabi, said the murals were deliberately designed as everyday reminders that dignity and freedom must be upheld for women, girls and persons with disabilities. “These visuals reinforce our responsibility to build homes where everyone feels safe,” she noted.
PureTrust Foundation’s Project Coordinator, Ms. Jamila Tahiru, explained that the initiative forms part of the “Champions of Change” project funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. “Dialogue and visual communication help communities rethink harmful norms. Today, Dalogyili has chosen unity,” she said.
Speakers from CHRAJ, the NCCE and the Department of Social Welfare used the event to address the structural issues fuelling inequality—from patriarchal traditions to low female representation in leadership—urging men to become allies in reshaping social expectations.
PureTrust Foundation CEO, Mr. Habib Haruna, highlighted the organisation’s deep-rooted partnership with Dalogyili, recounting how support for local women began under makeshift canopies in 2001 and has since grown into a thriving shea-processing centre. He announced ongoing plans to provide a borehole, expand processing facilities and promote youth development.
For many residents, the murals are more than art—they are symbols of progress. Women shared testimonies of how financial literacy training from PureTrust Foundation had empowered them to save consistently, plan for their families and gain confidence in community decision-making.
Dalogyili’s chief, Naa Abdulai Salifu, commended the long-term commitment of PureTrust Foundation and GIZ, and appealed for expanded support in water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure.
With the murals now woven into the daily life of Dalogyili, residents say the message is clear: peaceful homes begin with shared responsibility, respect and the courage to challenge violence in all its forms.
