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A village head of Mafararikwa community (Noah Mafararikwa) usually referred to sabhuku Nyamadzawo as one of the traditional leaders who whole-heartedly committed to work towards achieving gender equality through accepting and involving women and girls in their societal norms and practises. He is part of SAfAIDS Irish Aid Community for Gender Transformation program (CGTF) and he hopes to see his community understanding cultural and religious practises that perpetuate the abuse of women and girls.

 

The SAfAIDS Young People’s Transformational SRHR and Gender Leadership Academy (YPLA), has nurtured me to be more conversant, passionate and cognisant of issues around sexual reproductive health and rights, gender equality and sexual diversity. Although I had already started on my leadership journey on SRHR advocacy work, I lacked the enthusiasm. I did not believe in myself. I was afraid of failing. I could not explore any possibility of a bright future because I was still engulfed in my past. I had anxieties that I did not want to confront and that really had a toll on my confidence.

 

Mr Muvhundusi is one of the guide and counselling teachers at Chegato high school in Mberengwa district, which is one of the schools under the SAfAIDS Young People Information Advocacy (YPISA) programme, spearheaded by Betseranai a SAfAIDS partner. He highlighted a number of challenging issues that were affecting students before the intervention of the YPISA programme. Amongst these are bullying, dealing with relationships, pre-marital sex, drugs and alcohol abuse. Reports indicate that young people are at high risk of contracting HIV with 40% of all new HIV infections occurring in 15 to 24 year olds. As such empowerment on sexual health information is a necessity.

“l used to believe happy families are a gift from God, a privilege for a few. I was convinced I belonged to the unfortunate group, who can only see happy families from a distance. My husband was a dominant person. He would demand respect as a father and head of family by whatever means possible. Even if it meant we had to always jump to make him feel powerful, then that was good for him. There are several times when l wanted to suggest something as a wife, but all my suggestions were turned down. “Since when did married women start calling orders?’’ that was his response always.

For the past 10 years since l tied the knot with my husband, he has never fetched firewood for the family or even build a stack of firewood (bakwa). But recently, I was surprised to see this happening and this is undeniably because of his involvement in the SAfAIDS programme. The programme reached the core of so many husbands who are part of Men as Partners/Women as Partners training (MasP/WasP). This programme encourages peace in the homes and enlightens the community about the dangers of gender-based violence (GBV).

 

The programme funded by Irish Aid through SAfAIDS and Bekezela has assisted 15 children from vulnerable households of Siganda communal area in Bubi District of Matabeleland North access education. These children are part of a large pool of children from the community who are struggling to pay school levies.

I am Misheck Sanyamaropa acting headman of Sanyamaropa village in Nyanga District under DOMCCP a SAfAIDS partner. SAfAIDS Fatherhood Club is inducing a positive emotion in my life. I married young and taking care of my family was a bit challenging. My wife was a violent person and l had to endure her aggression most of the time. I felt that it was not her fault because she had been exposed to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) from a tender age.

I would like to tell you my “l story” as a Young for Gender Transformation Club Facilitator (Y4GT). When l was sixteen last year (2016), l was chosen by my guide and counselling teacher to join the Y4GT club. This was because l always come out as an ambitious and innovative young leader who is consistent in standing for the rights of women.

In an effort to bring young people together, SAfAIDS conducted a Youth for Gender Transformation (Y4GT) club youth camp under the Integrated Approach to HIV and Gender Based Violence (Irish Aid Zimbabwe) programme at Mbizi Game Lodge in Harare. Thirty young people were drawn from SAfAIDS partners including Bekezela, Ndaiziva, DOMCAP, FACT Chiredzi and Betserenai. The Youth camp, a first of its kind brought together young people