Connecting in a disconnected world: SMS to reduce GBV risk

Connecting in a disconnected world: SMS to reduce risk of gender-based violence among displaced adolescents and youth

Walking on the streets of Basmane, a low-income neighbourhood in the Turkish city of Izmir, the presence of adolescent girls on the streets is remarkably absent. Basmane is one of the neighbourhoods in Izmir with a large population of Syrian refugees. We started our research study with the questions: Where are Syrian adolescent girls and how do we reach them to start talking about issues such as gender-based violence? Our hypothesis was simple: Adolescent girls are likely to be at home or may be engaged in domestic work and the best way to reach them is via their mobile phones.

Our research project aimed to test this hypothesis through the use of qualitative and participatory action research methods, including focus group discussions and community mapping. We proposed to use RapidPro, an SMS platform, to reach adolescent girls with information about gender-based violence risk and dangerous areas to avoid in the community.

Our study team arrived in Izmir and was faced with the task of conducting focus group discussions and the piloting of RapidPro. Upon arrival, over multiple glasses of strong Turkish tea and sitting under the shade of a tree, we reviewed the premise of the research project, responded to questions from our colleagues in Izmir, and planned out the intensive training and data collection. Our interview team consisted of a male paediatrician, a female teacher, a male psychologist and a female NGO worker. All facilitators except for the teacher were Syrian. Facilitators were trained to work in pairs. Same sex focus group discussions had same sex facilitators. Mixed sex focus group discussions had mixed sex facilitators. The director of Relief Society for Syrian Refugees and the WAHA social worker helped us to recruit participants. Other participants were recruited from the networks of a partnering NGO. Due to the incredible support from Relief Society for Syrian Refugees, the WAHA team and our facilitators, we were able to complete eight focus group discussions.

Simultaneously, our innovation partner, Gobee Group, worked night and day to get RapidPro up and running with Turkish phone numbers. However, we faced numerous challenges in piloting the platform. We soon realised that RapidPro was not going to work in Turkey due to recent government restrictions on communication following the attempted coup d’état. Gobee Group sprang into action and set out to programme an entirely new messaging platform called Flask. Flask was up and running the next day. Although this platform was technically not blocked, we were faced with administrative hurdles of registering our Turkish Flask account. Much to everyone’s disappointment we were not able to get the Flask account registered. We therefore were not able to complete the SMS pilot.

However, preliminary results from the focus group discussions with adolescent girls, boys and community members revealed three important findings:

1. Syrian adolescent girls in Izmir have (or share) mobile phones and they use these phones to communicate within their social networks.
2. Adolescents were eager to receive information via SMS. Community members support adolescent girls receiving information about gender-based violence. Community members requested that messages are sent to all members of the Syrian community.
3. Syrian adolescent girls reported willingness to discuss gender-based violence.