Summary
The Empowerment Village will serve as a shelter, counseling center and community clubhouse where girls combating sexual and emotional abuse can regain their self-esteem and hope for the future.
What is the issue, problem, or challenge?
In Zimbabwe, the boy child is given priority in all aspects of life. This has resulted in the escalating number of homeless girls, school drop-outs, child prostitution, rape, HIV/AIDS, forced virginity testing, early marriages and pregnancies. By setting up an Empowerment Village in rural Hwange, the project will reach over 1,000 girls. The first of its kind in the area, the village will expose the rampant abuse against girl children and break the culture of silence and shame in Hwange.
How will this project solve this problem?
Two hundred girls will be assisted in setting up and running income-generating self-help projects. Three hundred girls will be reinstated to schools and 100 girls will be assisted with applications to apply for University.
Potential Long Term Impact
In addition to 1,000 members, each year at least 300 girls will be assisted with counseling and temporary shelter from abuse. The structure itself will include offices, classrooms, four hostels, two kitchens, and a crafts center.
Project Message
The GCN Empowerment Villages work miracles for the girl children of Zimbabwe. Life is particularly difficult for women and children, and for many, the village is their only hope for a better future.
- Anuradha Srikantan, IDEX Africa Program Director
Funding Information
Total Funding Received to Date: $9,771
Funding Information
This project is now in implementation and no longer available for funding.
Received funds will be used to accomplish concrete objectives as
indicated in the project's "Activities" section. Updates will be posted under the
"Project Report" tab as they become available.
Donors' contributions and pledges to this project totaled $9,771
.
The original project funding goal was $8,517.
Additional Documentation
This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).
Resources