Give education & training to Zimbabwean girls

Something Different! 

This quarter saw the staff team have thier first ever off-site staff retreat. The theme was,”making a difference, making a lasting impression”. Training was delivered internally with addition needs being outsoruced to Zimbabwe Red Cross Society, People’s College and Executive Skills College and Leonard Chishire Disability Zimbabwe .Speakers were also present from Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare. The retreat also adressed needs for programme improvements including better disablity awareness and enhanced safeguarding. 

One staff member commented "...it refreshes and motivates to do the work more effectively. I understand the Rafiki mission and vision better and I am committed to supporting it"

Continuing efforts to get stronger and do more Rafiki has recently done work on the below policies

• Whistle blowing policy
• Child safeguarding policy
• Risk Management Policy
• Financial policy and procedure manual
• Anticorruption Policy
• IT Policy
• Gender Policy
• Vehicle Policy
• Declaration of conflict of interest Policy & form
• Code of Conduct

 

Business As Usual!

In March of this quarter our January intake of 40 young ladies completed thier Internal Training (growing confidence and a broad range of skills) and began thier specialisms. We had 6 specialist in Nurse Aid training, 6 for Hotel and catering, 8 for Pre-School, 6 for Cosmetoilogy, 6 training in Intreior Design and 8 in Cutting and Design. 

The next intake began in May with 124 girls applying for the 40 avialbe places. Spaces were givne to 30 young ladies and 10 more who are single mothers. 

A sad story has already affected this programme as one of the single mothers, already facing challenges at home, lost her mother after she was hit by a bus. With insuffucnet childcare she has sadly had to drop out of the course this time. We hope to be able to better support those with childcare needs in the futre. 

Links:

• ZET Website

Eveyone loves a sucess story, so this quarter we present you with one.

Seen in the photo Ropafadzo has had a rollercoaster time. Being one of the first ever young mum's that Rafiki has been able to accept into the programme (a success story all of its own!), Ropa is 20 years old and a single mum. Her little boy of 2 finds himself without a father, who having denied responsibliity for the baby, ran away to South Africa. Ropa, who lost her mother in 2013, was looking after her father who was sick and living with HIV. Living in poverty, finding life hard and crying on a daily basis, Ropa came to Rafiki in May 2018. 

Staying on the course with so many responsiblities proved a real struggle but Ropa made it and having specialised in Hotel & Catering she went on placement to the Ambasador Hotel where, after only two months - they gave her a job!

The change in skills, experience, income and more has ultimately led to a change in happines. She's now better placed than ever to provide for herself and her family and can do so with a smile on her face.