Give education & training to Zimbabwean girls

Autumn has been a successful period for the Rafiki project with girls and young women continuing their personal and vocational education. ZET and the Rafiki Girls’ Centre would like to thank all of our GlobalGiving.org supporters for their generosity.

The January 2016 intake graduated at a colourful ceremony that was held on October 29. 4 girls graduated in nursery school teaching, 4 in nurse aide course, 9 in hotel and catering, 3 in cosmetology and these are actively using the skills acquired, 3 in interior designing and 4 in cutting and designing. Some of the girls continue to work from home whilst others have already found paid employment.

Currently, the class of July 2016 have now begun the vocational part of their course having completed their initial course in life skills and feminine hygiene. These 31 girls have now attended an open day to help parents and guardians understand the role Rafiki plays, a careers day to help the girls understand the different courses available to them, and an educational trip to Pasichigare.

Alongside learning new vocational skills, the girls have also been involved in an HIV workshop that promoted awareness with two speakers explaining how they have managed to live positively despite being HIV positive. Voluntary testing has also been undertaken with 31 girls volunteering to be tested. None of the girls tested positive except the three girls who already knew about their test. One of the girls has shown great improvement and confidence after she realised that there are so many people who are living with the disease and that in spite of the disease they can still smile.

With its continuing success, Rafiki girls centre has received record amounts of applications and continues to strive to offer as many girls who are in need the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty through education.

Links:

• The Zimbabwe Educational Trust website