INFLUENCE OF ADVOCACY ON THE MINDSET CHANGE OF HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES IN NYAGATARE DISTRICT
Abstract
This study investigated the influence of advocacy on the mindset change of historically marginalized communities in Nyagatare District, Rwanda. It explores how advocacy interventions—through awareness campaigns, training programs, and community engagement—affect attitudes, behaviors, and socio-economic empowerment among women and other marginalized groups. Using a descriptive survey design with a mixed-methods approach, the study collected data from 304 respondents, including community leaders, health workers, and members of the Women’s Organization for Promoting Unity (WOPU). Quantitative data were gathered through structured questionnaires, while qualitative insights were obtained via semi-structured interviews. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, regression, and reliability tests to ensure validity and consistency. The regression analysis results indicate that advocacy has a statistically significant positive influence on fostering mindset change among historically marginalized communities in Nyagatare District. The model summary shows an R value of 0.249 and an R² of 0.062, suggesting that advocacy accounts for 6.2% of the variance in mindset change, which, while modest, is meaningful in social research contexts (Cohen et al., 2020). The ANOVA results confirm the model's significance, with F(1, 292) = 19.276, p < 0.001, indicating that advocacy reliably predicts changes in mindset. The coefficient table reveals that advocacy has a positive and significant effect (B = 0.185, β = 0.249, t = 4.390, p < 0.001), meaning that for each unit increase in advocacy efforts, there is a corresponding 0.185 unit increase in fostering mindset change. The findings reveal that advocacy significantly fosters mindset change, enhances self-confidence, increases participation in decision-making, and improves access to economic opportunities. Additionally, advocacy-based training contributes to positive shifts in community leadership norms and the reduction of discriminatory practices. The study concludes that sustained advocacy interventions are critical for promoting social transformation, empowering marginalized populations, and fostering inclusive development in Nyagatare District.
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