By Thelmah Nyirongo | Program Assistant
HOCIC has continued implementing the Help 500 families affected by Cyclone Idai in Zimbabwe. In the last quarter the project distributed dignity packs, which consisted of four reusable sanitary pads, a face towel and a cotton panty, to adolescent girls in Chimanimani and conducted menstrual health trainings. The project also distributed stationery to children between the ages of six and thirteen at a primary school in Chimanimani.
In the quarter under review the project conducted monitoring visits and calls to the beneficiaries of the reusable sanitary wear and stationery. Feedback received is very positive and encouraging. The adolescent girls who received the dignity packs stated that they were now able to attend school even on days when they are on their periods as they have proper panties and sanitary pads that prevent leakage. Leakage during periods causes embarrassment and girls would rather miss school if they do not have proper panties and sanitary wear. This means that girls miss out on school and this affects their uptake of the education they receive. The girls also stated that the dignity packs have also helped increase their confidence levels, hence they are able to take part in activities at school such as sports, drama and debate. The headmaster at Tilbury primary school, which received the stationery stated that the school attendance during the third term of 2019 was high that the second term and the children participated actively because they all had stationery which enabled them to do their school work properly. He stated that most children at the school were severely affected by the Cyclone and parents and guardians were struggling to piece their lives and homes back together, hence the stationery had helped the parents. However, the stationery was only enough for the third term of 2019 and a bit of the first term of 2020 and now some parents and guardians are struggling to get stationery for their children.
The project still faces challenges in raising funds to continue with implementing the project.
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