Educate and Empower 18,000 Girls in Zimbabwe

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." – Nelson Mandela

Across Zimbabwe, thousands of teenage girls face a future shaped not by their potential but by poverty. For many, the struggle to put food on the table forces them to make heartbreaking choices. Some leave school because their families can no longer afford school fees. Others, desperate to help support their parents and younger siblings, become trapped in the world of commercial sex work simply to survive.

At Singabantwana, we believe every girl deserves another chance.

Our vision is to educate and empower 18,000 vulnerable girls, giving them the opportunity to break free from poverty through practical skills, counselling, mentoring, and the chance to build a sustainable future.

One of the ways we do this is through our rescue and restoration programme for vulnerable teenage girls who have left school because of poverty and entered sex work in order to support their families. These courageous young women are offered a safe pathway to leave exploitation behind and begin rebuilding their lives.

After receiving counselling and emotional support, they are trained in practical vocational skills such as hairdressing, catering, entrepreneurship, and small business management. They are taught not only how to master a trade but also how to market their services, manage finances, and operate successful small businesses. Many go on to establish their own enterprises, enabling them to earn an honest living while providing for themselves and their families with dignity.

One of the greatest rewards is watching girls who once believed they had no future become confident young business owners. Some now operate thriving hair salons. Others prepare food for weddings, community events, and local businesses. Their income allows them to support younger siblings, contribute to household expenses, and demonstrate that there is another way forward.

Alongside this work, Singabantwana also runs a vocational agricultural training program for young women who have received little or no formal education. These students learn practical farming skills including vegetable production, greenhouse management, broiler production, piggery, conservation agriculture, irrigation, and small-scale agribusiness. Agriculture provides them with the skills to feed their families, generate an income, and build long-term livelihoods.

One inspiring example is Sydney, who completed the agricultural programme and was given just 50 day-old chicks to begin her own poultry enterprise. Through determination and wise stewardship, she reinvested her earnings, grew her business, and now helps support her family while continuing her education. Her journey demonstrates how opportunity, combined with hard work, can transform a life.

Our commitment to empowering girls extends to the children growing up at the Sandra Jones Centre. As they complete their schooling, we encourage them to pursue professional training in areas that match their interests and abilities, equipping them for meaningful employment and independent adulthood. One such young woman is Bobbi, who discovered a passion for beauty therapy and is now completing her professional attachment, stepping confidently into the next chapter of her life.

Every success story creates a ripple effect. A girl who earns an income is better able to support herself, care for her family, and inspire others in her community. She is no longer defined by poverty or exploitation but by her resilience, her skills, and her hope for the future.

This life-changing work would not be possible without faithful partners who believe in Zimbabwe's young women. We extend our heartfelt thanks to AFCAIDS for their steadfast support and encouragement over many years. Their partnership has enabled countless vulnerable girls to receive training, mentoring, and the opportunity to rewrite the story of their lives. We are deeply grateful for their commitment to investing in the future of Zimbabwe's young women.

Our dream of reaching 18,000 girls is ambitious, but we know that lasting transformation begins one life at a time.

Together, we can replace exploitation with opportunity, poverty with purpose, and despair with hope.

Educate a girl. Empower a woman. Transform a nation.