Izonzi Kolaki Ta! (Keep Girls in School!)

The Inzonzi Kolaki Ta (Keep Girls in School) project continues to empower youth and girls in Moyo district through mentorship, psychosocial support, life skills training , and community engagement. This report highlights the projects activities, achievements, challenges, impact, and success stories for the period of October – December 2025. This project fosters a safe space for participants to share experiences gain confidence, knowledge and ultimately contributing to their personal growth and community engagement.

Between October and December 2025, 23 girls and women benefited from project activities which included: 

• Peer-to-peer mentorship and life-skills training at Amani Transformational Foundation Office in Moyo, focusing on leadership and self-confidence.

• Awareness sessions on early pregnancy prevention and family planning.

• Community engagement with parents and stakeholders on the causes, effects and solutions to girl-child school dropouts.

• Communication and decision-making exercises to strengthen informed choices.

• Conflict-resolution activities to promote healthy peer relationships and friendships.

• Time-management and responsibility training, especially for girls balancing household duties and vocational training.

• Reproductive health mentorship covering hygiene, pregnancy prevention, family planning and referral pathways.

• Team-building and public-speaking activities to build trust, collaboration and girl-led awareness.

Individual Success Story

Before joining the Inzonzi Kolakita peer mentorship program, Amina (name changed to protect her identity) was a quiet and withdrawn 17-year-old girl. She had experienced gender-based violence and, due to ongoing family challenges, had dropped out of school. Over time, she lost confidence in herself and began to believe that her dreams no longer mattered.

When Amina was first introduced to the peer mentorship sessions by AG, she rarely spoke. She avoided group discussions and found it difficult to trust others. However, through regular peer conversations, psychosocial support sessions, and consistent encouragement from mentors and fellow girls, Amina slowly began to open up and share her story. As the sessions continued, she gained confidence and developed important life skills such as self-expression, decision-making, and personal resilience. With guidance from her mentor, she began to rediscover her potential, set personal goals, and commit herself to rebuilding her life.

Today, Amina is an active member of Inzonzi Kolakita and has also joined the group’s vocational tailoring program. She now speaks freely during sessions and offers support to other girls who are experiencing violence. Amina describes the Inzonzi Kolakita program as a turning point in her life. What once felt like the end became a new beginning. Through peer support and mentorship, she has reclaimed her voice, her confidence, and her hope for the future. (Photo declined.)

This individual transformation reflects the true impact of Inzonzi Kolakita — one girl empowered, one life changed.

• Amina's Success Story (PDF)
  

Summary of progress

Between June and August 2025, the program focused on strengthening psychosocial support, preparing girls for vocational training, and mobilizing community backing. Twenty three (23) new girls joined the program. In June, facilitators organized healing circles and individual counseling sessions to promote trauma awareness, stress management, and emotional resilience, while community outreach engaged parents, teachers, and local leaders on early pregnancy prevention and the importance of girls’ education. In July, the team assessed and interviewed girls for enrollment in tailoring and related trades using structured criteria on vulnerability, motivation, and readiness, while continuing mentorship and peer-support activities. Community meetings were also held to address potential barriers to participation. By August, facilitators conducted follow-up counseling to ensure girls were emotionally and socially prepared for training, held community dialogues on GBV prevention and family support, and completed administrative and logistical preparations to launch vocational training in the next quarter. Average attendance during the reporting period was 82%.

Challenges, Mitigation Measures and Lessons Learned

Challenge 1: Delay in starting vocational training due to partner scheduling and logistics.
Mitigation: Completed assessments and interviews this quarter so girls are ready to start immediately once partner dates are confirmed; maintained psychosocial support to keep girls engaged.

Challenge 2: Family resistance in a few cases where parents considered marriage or domestic labor instead of training.
Mitigation: Intensified parental engagement meetings, used testimonies from program graduates and community leaders to shift attitudes; individual counseling included family outreach.

Challenge 3: High trauma levels among beneficiaries requiring additional counseling time.
Mitigation: Adjusted session frequency, created peer-support buddy systems, and referred complex cases to available local health services and partner counselors.

• Aisha's future can be bright (PDF)