Our programs in Zimbabwe scale up innovative, integrated, community models in a range of sectors. Bantwana works to improve child and adolescent health and education outcomes; enhance access to HIV prevention and the continuum of care; strengthen social protection and violence prevention and response services; build social and economic assets of adolescent girls and young women; support positive youth development and livelihoods; and bolster household economic resilience.
Bantwana Zimbabwe leads and partners with local, regional, and international organizations to implement donor-funded programs to advance health, education, economic, and social protection outcomes for vulnerable children, adolescents, and their caregivers. Our innovative models of care build on existing community structures and address the comprehensive needs of children and adolescents, especially those living with or vulnerable to HIV, disabilities, or violence.
It is every little girl’s dream to make her father proud. But for Claris Chada, age 23 years, that hope was taken away in 2010 when her father died, leaving her and her five siblings with no breadwinner. As the economic situation in Zimbabwe deteriorated, Claris found herself engaged in risky sexual behavior, partly motivated by a need for money to cover her basic needs but also by a longing to move away from home and not be a burden to her mother. With limited economic options and no access to capital for any significant endeavors, Claris begun petty trading, selling boiled eggs, sweets and crisps—anything that could help her support her family. She even resorted to working illegally as a till operator outside of the country.
Claris’ father had been a promising mechanic before he died and so when she saw the Siyakha Girls advertisement for young women interested in employment in auto mechanics (or textile manufacturing or leather working), she was thrilled to have the chance to follow in her father’s footsteps and carry on his legacy. After undergoing ASPIRES foundational training on life skills, job preparation, and financial literacy, Claris and 47 other participants completed eight to nine weeks of vocational training following an interactive, practical, hands-on curriculum to equip them withthe skills needed to enter their industry of interest.
To learn more about Claris, read our blog.
The Work Readiness Program is a very good program. It helps youth gain a belief in their ability to become self – reliant and productive citizens. Many came into the training with a negative attitude about their future, but after the training, the youth have started making more calculated plans for their future and are ready to advance their careers.
