Empowering Youth: Examples from the Field

Here’s what lies ahead for GSGC-sponsored clubs, and what has just taken place:

Mugurameno Girls Club, Mfuwe, Zambia

We’re intensifying theatre activities as we have noticed the effects are wonderful. This will help boost the girls’ confidence levels. We will continue to offer literacy support by giving the girls reading material, encouraging them to read aloud in front of their friends during club time, and giving them writing exercises. — Mentor Thokozile Phiri Time & Tide

WayiWayi Arts Enrichment for Boys, Livingstone, Zambia The boys are looking at risks young people face in their community. A few mentioned smoking, stealing and prostitution. They also took time to identify skills that might help young people avoid risky behaviors and build a healthy and positive future. — Mentor Kangwa Yombwe

Isepe Girls Club, Mwandi, Zambia The girls will continue learning to sew face masks so that the girls from non-exam classes can catch up, too. — Mentor Pestrida Muleya

Girls Time Club, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Blessing, Girls Time Club alumnae, Zimbabwe

Blessing, one of our alumnae, has been teaching herself to make wigs and plait. She has started a small business, which helps support her and her family in these difficult times. We are proud that she has taken the initiative and is making an honest living from what she’s good at.

Mellisa, Girls Time Club alumnae, Zimbabwe

This is Mellisa, another alumna, who took to mat-making seriously and is now making and selling mats in her neighborhood.

We are excited that our girls are taking (the) initiative to do something about their situations and not waiting to be assisted or resort to deadly ways. — Mentor Procedure Chikosi

Yosefe Girls Club, Mfuwe, Zambia We have 23 junior girls and 19 senior girls who meet once a week. One week, we will focus on self-esteem building. The girls will create vision boards, motivating them to work hard to achieve their dreams and goals. The next week, the girls will have English lessons and activities that will boost their English-speaking skills. The third week, the girls will learn about how one can speak boldly without fear. In week four, the girls will lean about gender-based violence, how to avoid it and how to report unwanted advances.

We say a thousand gratitudes to GSGC. — Mentor Prisca Sakala

Tikobane Boys Club, Dete, Zimbabwe We had a brilliant time with 11 of our boys. With the coronavirus restrictions being slowly eased, we are now seeing more of our boys at once. A volunteer from the community loaned us darts and also trained our boys in the game of darts. Focus, responsibility, independence are some of the lessons boys got from playing the game. Sports are vital in developing the character of our boys. — Mentor Dumisani Moyo

Tikobane Girls Club, Dete, Zimbabwe

For the first time since the lockdown in March, we had all our girls at the meeting. It was smiles, happiness and laughter. A guest educated our girls about STDs, HIV and AIDS, and she distributed 43 packets of sanitary pads.

In November, we will continue our girl empowerment lessons. Through essay writing, we will make the girls express the challenges they are faced with as girls. We will have time with both the girls and the boys. They will compete against each other through a quiz competition. This will help them boost their confidence.

The third week will be all about reading. They will be given time to read, and after that, they will have to tell us what they understood during their reading. The fourth week, we are taking the girls for an outing. We want them to be exposed to different places surrounding our community. — Mentors Sidunyisiwe Moyo and Thembelihle Dhlamini