By Rumbie Mzenda | Fundraising and Development
The beginning of 1st Term saw a new group of girls. The Senior Mistresses of each partner school look forward to the programme starting each year, as they are seeing positive change in the girls that have been through it. In addition to the 2 schools from last year, this year we added another school bringing us to 2 schools in the Mufakose area and 1 school in Mbvuku area. We recuited 10 girls from each school who fitted our vulnerable criteria. We have Local Community Mentors who have finished their one year training with us running sessions closely monitored by our Operations Manager and new Community Mentors being trained for the duration of this year.
To start the year our Mentors and Trainee Community Mentors undergo extensive training and safeguarding sessions. Throughout the term the mentors also received various training sessions on the topics covered to help them effectively facilitate the sessions. We were thrilled to take our Chairman from our UK Board on his recent visit, to the programme in Mbvuku and he enjoyed having a peek into how it all runs.
Unfortunately all three programmes were cut short due the COVID-19 Lockdown and schools have been closed since March. We have taken this time to review our material and prepare for the possible opening of schools under strict COVID-19 guidelines and have bought the necessary PPE for the sessions to commence as soon as schools open. However, we remain in touch with the mentors and it has been encouraging to hear how they have kept a positive attitude in this lockdown, despite the difficult circumstances. Some have taken to gardening, while others are making masks, others learning a new language but above all it has been a time to connect with family.
We also asked Mercy who has been working closely with the mentors to share her experience of the Girl Mentorship Programme which I believe sums up what the project is about. Here is what she had to say -
I came into the Girl mentorship programme as an excited mentor who was expecting to see a group of timid, vulnerable young girls. I was not sure in this case what vulnerable would look like or sound like, perhaps I was even a tiny bit apprehensive but I was sure there would be spirit, I find there always is in young people.
On my first day at a Girl mentorship session in 2019, I felt like I had joined a group of old friends who had no problems adding a new face to their circle. This particular group of girls had been meeting for a while and they all seemed to be enjoying each other’s company. There had been the exchange of library books and one of the mentors had read out a short story about an inspiring woman, I think it was Marie Curie that day. It was all pretty relaxed, I was enjoying the atmosphere. The girls were having a ‘free session’ meaning that it was not a front led session, they could chat about anything and the mentors would only step in here and there. The first discussion that day had turned to physical punishment as a way of disciplining naughty children. Over snacks and with squares of crocheting in their hands, the girls spoke about their experiences in this area. They were crocheting like pros, it was hard to believe it was a recently learnt skill. Some spoke of their experiences so lightly, I could feel both pity and anger rise in me but I followed the lead of the regular mentors who at nearly twenty years my juniors were already teaching me something about listening and doing it well. I quietly sat with many questions forming in my head. I was bubbling to know whether the girls thought it was right to administer physical punishment, whether this is a method they would use if/when they had children.
Clothing became the follow on topic. How should girls dress especially when going to church? There was a general sense that there is a relationship between verbal and sexual abuse and the way a girl dressed. But does that make it okay? I was dying to ask.
As I walked away on that first day, I had a cocktail of emotions going through me. My heart was both broken and full. I had had the chance to throw my questions into the conversation but I had not been prepared for some of the answers. The girls had passion, they had spirit, they had some kind of fearlessness that shone through some of their walls, some kind of vulnerability yes, but a kind that could be worked with. They were clearly at a stage where they could all stand up for something. So what was lacking? Education. Someone to impart the knowledge that surrounds these topics and others so the girls’ discussions and their way of living can be less about accepting all things as they are and more about opening their minds to how things should be . And the work that the Girl Child does goes a long way towards this. That is what comforted me and filled my heart with hope as I made my journey home that day. Such heartbreaking views and a poor outlook on life are the very reason why Girl child does the work it does. I wondered how many girls in Zimbabwe on that particular afternoon had felt safe enough to discuss their issues without the fear of being judged or punished. How many girls had been given a voice, a chance to ask for help even if they did not realise this is what they were doing? I was glad this group was giving them that at the very least.
Since that day, I have had the privilege of attending all three of our Girl Child locations. As the months go by, spending time with the girls is like watching a flower blossom. I now understand that the educating process does not happen overnight. I understand more about how much trust, vulnerability, patience and believing in each other goes into the work Girl Child does. I am pleased at how topics are addressed head on, how it makes the girls brave to own who they are with a hope for tomorrow. My hope and prayer is that this work is understood, valued and supported. Our donors have been incredible and year in year out we continue to need their support. At present, we have the joy of changing the lives of 30 girls a year, our dream is to increase this.
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By Rumbie Mzenda | Fundraising and Development
By Rumbie Mzenda | Fundraising &Development
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