With the elections in Zimbabwe taking place in August we were able to take advantage of a relaxation in the registration process as Registry Offices were keen to get people able to vote. In addition to adults who can vote now, we managed to refer over fifty children and a further thirty 16-21 year olds for birth certificates and national identity documents.
We’ve been active in the community; training Child Protection Committees, visiting people in their homes to give them advice and case support where they can’t come to us, and hosting legal advice clinics. Whist working in the same ward on a much needed nutritional garden project we took the opportunity to explain birth registration to those involved
All of these activities raise the profile and awareness of early birth registration and national identity registration. We are intent on building capacity in our communities to move towards a better future where lives are registered to formally exist and are subsequently empowered.
Thank you to all our donors and supporters for all you do to make this life changing work happen.
If you’d like to know more about our work feel free to get in touch via any of our social channels.
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With our long standing partner Trinity Project we continue to work closely with rural and urban communities in ensuring child protection through access to documentation. The organisation is undertaking this initiative so as to enable enjoyment of rights by children. This initiative is also informed by the realization that inasmuch as issues of access to documentation are found to be sensitive within communities as some tend to reflect on paternal and maternal relations, a child without a birth certificate or any other relevant form of identity documentation is more susceptible to socio-economic disparities. This is so because a child without a birth certificate cannot equitably access education, employment and other relevant socio-economic services that are crucial for the child’s wellbeing and welfare. Trinity Project therefore work closely with the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage through the Registrar General’s Office for both Matabeleland North and Bulawayo Provinces, Ministry of Health and Child Care through public health institutions, Ministry of Justice and Parliamentary Affairs through courts and legal systems. These are the relevant stakeholders in ensuring a child access to documentation and the organization has done a lot in championing and pioneering change in policies and systems for these institutions through encouraging them to consider the best interest of the child in their service delivery strategies. Through this initiative, the organization is also able to receive office drop in clients seeking assistance in access to documentation, the organization assists through giving legal advice around access to documentation. It is also important to note that this initiative relies also on a number of other legal issues like guardianship and sole custody which the organization assist with legal advice, drafting of court papers and refer for further assistance by other relevant stakeholders.
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As we move into 2023 we note the progress that has been made on birth registration – an issue with such wide reaching implications. Since 2008 we have
o Scrapping fees to register children born outside of Zimbabwe
o Banning hospitals from withholding birth records (this was a huge step however some hospitals still withhold records and must be challenged)
As we can see from in last quarter’s case study, on Mercy and the impact made for her and her children, birth registration is not only the law it is an essential part of setting a new-born, child or adult up in life. We’re tirelessly working to help individuals and drive system change for everyone. Thank you for all the support you give us. You have made the difference!
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This quarter we're proud to bring you a story from the perspective of a once unregistered mother;
My name is Mercy aged 49 mother to 3 children aged 15, 12 and 07, I reside in Umguza District with my family. I did not have identity card since I was born this was because my mother was a nomad we used to move a lot from one place to another until we finally settled in Umguza. Prior to the intervention by Zimbabwe Educational Trust and Trinity Project I attempted several times to be registered but I failed. A long list of complicated primary documents was given for us to produce to the Registrar if ever I was to be registered. With such long demands which I could not meet, I lost the hope of accessing identity documents. A lack of identity card for me meant that I could not benefit in the formal activities of the nation, I could not get a job or vote I could not access any humanitarian aid as I am living under dire circumstances of poverty. My children were denied their right to education. As a woman without identity documents I have felt how it is to be marginalised, despised, excluded and ignored, I have knocked on many offices appealing for help only to be tossed from one place to another with no positive results.
My story changed for the better when I attended an awareness campaign by Trinity project, the officers recorded my story and invited me to speak out in a community dialogue. The community dialogue I attended was very participatory as it afforded me an opportunity to open up on the challenges that I am going through. The dialogue had the district elites who included the District Development Coordinator, the Registrar General for Umguza who is the one responsible for issuing out identity documents, the Zimbabwe Republic Police among other stakeholders. On that day I prayed to God to give me the courage to speak out on how neglected women without identity documents feel, how the burden has affected me and my children as we are left out on any developmental programs. The people who deny us identity documents are all under one roof I felt it was indeed a chance for me to grab the forum and be an agent of change. I felt God had strengthened me to be the voice of the poor on that particular activity. I have no identity document, I have no work, if I had an Identity I would be busy like other women, I have nothing to do, so I watch my children and worry. What kind of life is that?
Zimbabwe Educational Trust and Trinity Project turned my story around through their advocacy community dialogues the Registrar vowed to assist me working hand in hand with Trinity Project and other stakeholders to eliminate the challenge I was going through. To safeguard me after exposing the mistreatment I had faced in the hands of service providers prior to engagement with Zimbabwe Educational Trust and Trinity Project provided all the support that I needed to start the registration process. The first step for me was to pursue registration for myself so that in turn I assist my children. Within a week working with Trinity Project I was assisted to get an Identity Card and Birth Certificate for myself. The second week I went to Mpilo Hospital being accompanied by Trinity Project to get a birth confirmation record for my children. At the hospital without Trinity Project lobbying for me to be given my records for free I was not going to be assisted on my own as they claimed search fees which I did not have nor could I afford. Trinity project mediated and I was given the birth confirmation records. At last I finally managed to register Birth Certificates for my children. They now know the joy of producing an identity documents whenever the need arises. They have been enrolled in school and are happily participating in extra curriculum activities like any other child of their age. I am really grateful to Trinity project as I am now fully experiencing a rebirth in every area of my life, I am looking forward to a positive and bright future for my children as they will not miss opportunities like how I did due to lack of identity documents.
The moral imperative for giving the poor a voice in poverty alleviation is evident, the bonus is that engaging with the poor also leads to better technical diagnosis of problems and implementation of solutions. Through the community dialogues, the poor deepen our understanding of poverty and how we can influence policy making on access to socio-economic rights for the deprived citizens. The capacity building of Child Protection Committees has addressed the issues of lack of information, education, skills and confidence on the service providers. The community dialogues approach provided an environment with opportunities for a more open dialogue and greater understanding between the powerless and those in power. Thank you!
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In the last quarter we've continued to help many children and families obtain their birth certificates. Involved in this process we’ve been working with rural Child Protection Committees (CPCs) to ensure that they are able to support new cases of access to documentation as they come to their attention. We’ve noted in the past that CPCs have at times been little more than a willing ear to listen to the challenges of the communities they serve. Whilst is important to be listened to, we’re happy to let you know that through our work with CPCs community members now tell us that the CPCs are far better informed, giving advice, passing useful information on about where to go, what the process is and what kinds of evidence is needed. This has greatly helped many people in preparing their cases properly instead of arriving at Registry Offices only to be turned away.
We’re also happy to be offering on-going support via our office drop in where we’ve supported several cases recently and have even represented some with legal support. For so many their cases are complex and their vulnerable status leaves them unable to resolve issues which hold them back. We’re here to help remove the barriers they face, giving them a chance at a full life.
Thanks to all our donors for your marvellous support!
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