Impact on girls

Demand is up

Today I did home visits for the boys, and I (asked my wife to come) with me to make a survey on what impact the COVID-19 situation has on girls. Parents seem to be very worried about the girls, that they will end up getting pregnant and some indulge in early marriage because they are not going to school and spend most of their time free and if not given good advice to stay focused, they will fall along the way. Parents are shouting out that we should also engage their girls.

After having done five homestead visits with boys, we got a good report about their behavior.

These stories are fueling the need for a girls’ club. — Nyika Muyambo, Mentor, Sisonke Boys Club, outside Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Inform a girl, inform a family

With me, it has been one-on-one talks with the girls. On their own free time, they come to see me, and I educate and update them on coronavirus and its prevention. Unfortunately, I don’t have pamphlets to give them. But I know that when they get information from me, they share it with their families and the whole community by controlling those who don’t follow the preventive measures.

— Pestrida Muleya, Isepe Girls Club, Lipumpa, Zambia

Ingenuity

Meet Hellen, one of our Wayi Wayi girls who has started making masks and matching bands during this pandemic. She made some for her entire family and brought some to show us. We have since ordered 30 for our boys and girls as a way of supporting her. Her father has been made to stop work, and she needs cotton wool for her art exam project to make a doormat. She sells the masks at 5 Kwacha each (26 cents US). Social distancing was observed during our short interaction with Hellen, and we wore masks to protect ourselves.

— Kangwa Yombwe, Wayi Wayi Girls Club, Livingstone, Zambia