Rusape Girls Empowerment Village - Zimbabwe | The Communication Initiative Network

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Country

Zimbabwe

Region

Global, Africa

Programme Summary

The Rusape Girls Empowerment village is a 'safe village' founded in 2001 by its current director, Betty Makoni. Located in Zimbabwe, the village was established in response to a felt need to empower rural girls. The centre serves as an information dissemination centre as well as a service provision and relief centre. Its goal is to give a sense of hope to abused rural girls. Organisers believe that the village's activism can contribute to respect for girls' rights on a broader scale.

Communication Strategies

This project is based on the premise that the "rural girl can reach greater heights if she is brought in close contact with technology." Using technology, the project hopes to address issues related to:

exploitation of rural girls as a source of cheap labour in urban areas, cities, and farming communities
sexual harassment and abuse of rural girls
poverty leading to exploitation
early pregnancies and marriages
cultural practices such as genital mutilation and virginity testing
physical, economic, and emotional violence perpetrated by parents and bullies
psychological torture through forced marriages
hostile school environments where teachers perpetrate sexual violence
victimisation by local leaders and people in influential positions.

Specifically, girls are provided with 3 months of training on the use of email and the Internet. The village has a computer lab with a photocopier, email access, and an Internet-connected computer. The girls produce brochures and referral materials there. "They have been motivated and greatly inspired by this development and also the latest information on HIV/AIDS has been very helpful. The girls have started the pen pal programme which has linked them with other girls for information exhange."

Other Empowerment Village programmes include:

Confidential crisis intervention, counselling, and resource referrals to girls in high risk situations including abuse, neglect, and homelessness.
Information volunteers at the village find and access essential human services. They assess each girl's situation and needs and try to identify resources that are affordable, accessible, and geographically convenient. "No problem is too small, too big or too shocking for the volunteers."
Provision of prevention, education, advocacy, and support
Women As Role Models Museum of Achievements - provides books and videos on subjects about breaking through in male dominated fields. This is accomplished through listening to women who have made it to the top. Girls can also go read through their profiles and make arrangements to meet with them.
Provision of practical, useful information designed to enable girls to help themselves.
Facilitation of education and outreach by gathering, clarifying, and simplifying information and resources.

Development Issues

Gender, Technology, Girls, Rights.

Key Points

The Empowerment Village has been set up to contribute to the development of rural girls by influencing government, NGOs, CSOs, and all stakeholder communities to implement empowerment programmes through information dissemination and networking supported by information sharing to benefit disadvantaged girls.

Partners

Girl Child Network Trust (GCNT), Firelight Foundation, IDEX, Department of Social Welfare, health institutions, police, and local organisations.

Contact

Betty Makoni
Director, Rusape Girls Empowerment Village
P.O. Box CZA239
Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe
Tel.: +263-(0)70-31132/21509, (0)11-753616, (0)11-753611, (0)11-758412
Fax: +263-(0)70-31132
gcn@zol.co.zw
nyamapfene@zol.co.zw

Placed on the Soul Beat Africa site December 08 2003.

Girl Child Network Trust (GCNT), Firelight Foundation, IDEX, Department of Social Welfare, health institutions, police, and loca