574-Girl Child Network Empowerment Villages

02/08/2012 GIRL CHILD NETWORK WORLD WIDE
PRESENTS
BEST POSITIVE AND INDIGENOUS
TRADITIONAL PRACTICES IN SHELTERING
RAPE VICTIMS IN ZIMBABWE
GIRLS EMPOWERMENT VILLAGES
ND
2 WORLD SHELTER CONFERENCE-DC
29 FEBRUARY TO 1 MARCH 2012
Some African traditions have some positives on sheltering
Formed in 1998 in Zimbabwe. GCNW empowers girls in the home,
school and community. Replicated in Uganda, South Africa and
Sierra Leone
1 02/08/2012 HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
400 Years ago Royal Makoni people settled in Rusape –
Manicaland, Zimbabwe
Brother and sister fought side by side and chieftainship, freedoms
and rights were shared between brother and sister- first tribe to
declare women equal-positive cultural practice
A special and sacred place was reserved for them and known as
Chitsotso-firewood and this is where they met as girls after
gathering firewood –it gave a choice ,space and voice
Community and family is place a girl must turn to before any
institution
A woman traditional chief helps in protecting girls
rights-Muzvare-The late Her Royal Highness Nedope
2 02/08/2012 Girls Empowerment Villages set up in 2001
CHIEFS FROM ROUND ZIMBABWE LAUNCHED THE EMPOWERMENT VILLAGES –
RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT GIRLS WAS TAKEN BY TRADITIONAL LEADERS UNLIKE
BEFORE WHERE INSTITUTIONS PROTECTED WOMEN AND THERE WAS RESISTANCE
Traditional Chiefs in Hwange get child protection
training-joined by chiefs from all over Zimbabwe
3 02/08/2012 Girls Empowerment Villages
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Empowerment villages serve as a safe haven for girls in rural
communities and those with no access to protection in their homes
Offered to 125 girls per month as a rehabilitation center to
heal from rape, forced marriages and harmful cultural practices
Hostels-sleep as meditation, counselling room, women as role
models museum of achievements, princesses hut, information
centre
4 02/08/2012 Who runs them?
Professional social workers and locally trained
women with knowledge on child protection known as
girl child monitors
¨  Also available to give referral to police, social
services and other members of the judicial system
¨  Volunteers
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The girls run self help projects –income
generating projects
Chihota Girls
Empowerment
Village bread
making
project to
sustain running
costs of the
village
5 02/08/2012 What happens there?
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The program takes girls through 5 stages of
empowerment
Allow access to informational resources and referrals
Offer psychological and medical support
Education
Empowerment
Strengthen confidence
Enhance creativity
Develop empathy
Discuss issues and obstacles they face individually and
collectively and devise solutions
HOME VISITS ASSESS IF A GIRL IS SAFE
HERE FATHER RAPED 5 YEAR OLD GIRL AND WE REALISE GIRL CANNOT OPEN UP AS
RAPIST STILL LIVES WITH HER IN SAME HOUSE-WE ASK POLICE TO HELP REMOVE THE
CHILD
6 02/08/2012 How do they help?
Rehabilitation for girls who are survivors of abuse
¨  Offer education
¨  Teach girls to become leaders and fulfill their
potential
¨  Build self-esteem
¨  Remind girls of the power that exists within
themselves
¨  Offer support from psychological, medical,
educational, social, legal and more
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Where are they?
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There are some 7000 empowerment clubs in
Zimbabwe, spread over 35 of Zimbabwe’s 58
districts and served by four girls empowerment
villages in Chitungwiza, Chihota, Rusape and
Hwange
7 02/08/2012 Girls Empowerment Villages transform girls
from victims to survivors to leaders
Why are they relevant?
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Zimbabwe has over 1.5 million orphaned children, 52%
of which are girl children and at risk, 10 girls report
rape daily in Zimbabwe and treble the number does
not
A GCN survey showed that of all sexual abuse of
children in Zimbabwe, 93% were girls
Designed to be responsive to girl children as the most
vulnerable entity
Community involvement helps sensitive and mitigate –
change attitudes, beliefs and practices
Formal institutions are not enough to deal with all cases
and that’s why family and community remains key
8 02/08/2012 Replication of model in Africa through global support to a fund
Girls can stay as long as when healed. Running costs for 25 girls
per month is US$1000
Girls Empowerment Village-A place to heal, hope and
to lead. Girls are born victorious and not victims
9 02/08/2012 EMPOWER THE GIRL CHILD, POWER THE NATION
“The worth of a nation can be measured by the number of its empowered girls.” –
Betty Makoni, CEO of Girl Child Network
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