Adolescent girls and young women empowerment program

Adolescent girls and young women empowerment program

Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Zimbabwe are disproportionately affected by HIV due to socio-economic vulnerability, poor access of sexual and reproductive health services, harmful traditional practices, sexual and gender-based violence among other factors.

It is against this background that DAPP Zimbabwe through its HOPE Bindura project is implementing the Determined, Resilient, Empowered, Aids-Free, Mentored And Safe Adolescent Girls And Young Women (AGYW) Program targeting 25 girls aged 9-24 years from Bindura Rural District. The program seeks to empower the AGYW and young women with HIV and sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) information and services to reduce the number of new HIV infections.

Through the establishment of an Adolescent SRHR club at Wayerera Secondary School the program allows girls get correct and accurate information around sexual and reproductive health, life skills and economic-strengthening issues. Armed with knowledge and skills the girls are able to seek out health services and combination HIV prevention options.  The girls are also provide with sanitary wear to allow them to remain in school

Economic empowerment is also a pillar of the program where mentors empower girls through trainings in financial literacy, Internal Savings and Lending (ISALs) and small business management with support from various stakeholders such as the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community Small and Medium Enterprises and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.

The program also aims to break the barriers to communication between adolescent girls and parents by engaging them to encourage primary sexual health lessons and increase awareness against child sexual abuse and harmful gender norms.

The program is made possible with the financial support from UFF HUMANA

 

Girls receive re-usable sanitary pads -File Image

 

 

Recycling for Development reaches clinics & schools in Manicaland

Recycling for Development reaches clinics & schools in Manicaland

Development Aid from People to People in Zimbabwe (DAPP) handed over hospital and school equipment worth thousands of dollars to five schools and three clinics in Manicaland province at an event held at Kukwanisa Vocational Training Centre on the 3rd of November 2021.

The donated goods which  include as electric hospital beds,crutches, and blankets, uniforms,Personal Protective Equipment, school desks, chairs among other essentials under the Recycling for Development initiative

Speaking at event as the guest of honor, Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution Honorable, Nokuthula Matsikenyere commended DAPP and UFF -Humana for the continuous support of development work in Mutasa District saying “the donation of school education materials and medical equipment come at a crucial time when everyone is struggling with the effects of COVID-19”

Honorable Matsikinyere said the community outreach component of their program is counted among the essential services working to improve the lives of the communities.

Speaking at the same occasion, DAPP Zimbabwe Country Director, Luckson Soda says the Recycling for Development initiative reduces waste while creating value for people in need. “DAPP’s main task to bridge the gap between the rich and poor by mobilizing resources from the place of abundance to the place of need”

Meanwhile Sagambe Primary School Headmaster Evans Mwaturura commended DAPP for its support at the school. “The efforts by DAPP is greatly appreciated as it will help our pupils to learn in a comfortable environment since some pupils were learning seated down on the floor and this had a downside during examination time”.

 

Nurse helping to load medical equipment donations into a truck