April 23, 2020
April 22, 2020
Dear friends and members of the Tariro community,
We all hope you are staying safe and well. Our thoughts are with you and together we will get past these unprecedented times.
As the novel coronavirus, COVID -19, spreads across Africa, we wanted to give you an update on the current situation in Zimbabwe and to request your help so that we can provide support to our students and their families at a time when they need it the most.
UPDATE:
As of April 22nd, 2020, the country has been in the midst of a full lockdown until at least the beginning of May, with schools, banks, and most stores closed. Essential services though remain open. There are reports of some violence and many arrests for not obeying the lockdown. The number of those testing positive in Zimbabwe is still low (28 cases and 4 deaths recorded as of April 22nd), but most agree that this is due to the lack of enough testing and inability to accurately track related cases. To make matters more complex, there is currently an outbreak of malaria in the country that has killed at least 135 people as of today. There are many reports that social distancing is not being practised, food is scarce, health care is hard to come by, and there is an expected increase in cases which follows the path of infections around the globe.
Even before this pandemic struck, the country’s “informal economy” was how most people obtained groceries and other necessities. This economy operates on a mostly cash-only or barter system. With the lockdown, staples are hard to get, especially if you are without cash, compounding the ongoing health crisis with a likely hunger crisis. As was noted in the United Nations News (published April 8, 2020):
“Urgent international support is needed to prevent millions of desperate Zimbabweans from plunging deeper into hunger”.
“According to the World Food Programme (WFP), as COVID 19 takes hold, the country’s already severe climate-and-recession induced hunger crisis is becoming even more profound.”
“…with unprecedented hyper-inflation having pushed the prices of staples out of reach for most Zimbabweans, increasingly, desperate families are eating less.”
In consultation with our staff in Zimbabwe and with the generosity and flexibility of Kutsinhira Arts and Cultural Centre in Eugene, Tariro was able to provide a one-time crisis grant to the girls and their families so that they can buy food and essentials, such as sanitary pads. Young girls impacted by HIV/AIDS are especially vulnerable to the effects of the economy and the COVID 19 pandemic, and we are extremely grateful to Kutsinhira for helping us find a way to provide essential support to our students and their families.
With the support of generous donors, Tariro has shown that it can be responsive in the face of crisis and protect some of the most vulnerable members of communities: young girls already orphaned by AIDS and HIV.
OUR ASK
How can you help? Please consider contributing or making a donation to Tariro and even consider a recurring monthly gift of even $25 USD per month. The stability of funds will allow us to support the wellbeing of our students and staff for the duration of the crisis and to plan into the future as we begin to understand the full effects of this pandemic. Any support is greatly appreciated; if a recurring gift is not possible, a one-time offering can still go a long way.
Your generosity will ensure that we can continue the work we do and strengthen the resiliency of the Tariro girls and staff well beyond the pandemic’s passing. Ensuring the right to education and emotional well-being for our students is our priority, and brings stability to their lives.
We remain committed to our mission of supporting education and the psycho-social needs for our girls. We hope that you can support us and donate to Tariro.
You can donate through our website www.tariro.org to make a donation. We all thank you in advance for your generosity through these critical times.
Warmest wishes and thanks,
Barb Roberts
Board President
Tariro – Hope and Health for the Orphans of Zimbabwe
April 18, 2020
Today Zimbabwe celebrates Independence Day amidst the Corona Virus Disease (COVID 19) that has hit the world. Many Zimbabweans scattered all over the world, celebrate this day with mixed feelings. At Tariro, we wish every Zimbabwean a happy independence day and as we commemorate 40 years of independence we acknowledge the new progressive provisions of the Zimbabwe Education Act as a Triumph for Girls.
Imagine two young teenagers in secondary school fall in love, or at least they think it is love. Let’s call it infatuation. They become wildly infatuated with each other, and he pursues her intently with the help of his comrades. Everyone in their class knows what’s happening, and the attention she receives is completely flattering. Her girlfriends have now taken to calling her “Mrs Moyo”, so let’s say the boy’s name is Takudzwa Moyo, Taku for short, and she is called Rudo.
So the girls, in a classic fashion, bestow a new surname on Rudo and declare the pair to be soulmates. Rudo knows she’s not supposed to have a boyfriend at 15 years old, her parents forbade her, but Taku is so handsome! And all her friends think they should date, and she really likes him…besides, who will tell her parents? Rudo throws all caution to the wind and embraces these exhilarating feelings she has; a beautiful teenage love affair begins.
The two spend their time in class passing each other little love notes, they sit together at break time, at lunchtime, at supper time, and now Taku walks his belle as close to her hostel as he can whenever the chance arises. They are completely besotted with one another. At first, all they do is hold hands, after all, Rudo cannot bring herself to completely disobey her parents, but the pull of young love is strong. Soon it becomes hard to ignore the urge to be wrapped in his arms in an equally innocent hug; thus, they find a new way of greeting and parting.
Desire is a wild thing, and possibly entirely overwhelming for young minds who have yet to experience any of it. It was to be expected that Taku and Rudo couldn’t ignore the curiosity anymore, tormented by their feelings. How could he not drop a kiss on her lips when she was standing in his arms staring right into his soul with those beautiful, brown eyes? And that pretty, shy smile that brought out her left dimple? He had to kiss her, and after her initial shyness, she’s more than happy to comply.
They find all the hidden nooks and crannies on the school grounds to hide and try all the different ways of kissing under the sun. Predictably it doesn’t end there, not when their bodies are screaming for more and not when their infatuation is so intense and binding. Eventually, their hands start to wander all over each other, and the resulting sensation is wondrous. Rudo can’t quite remember why her parents insist this is a sin; how can touching someone you love be a sin? How can the expression of love be a sin?
Anyways, I’m sure you know the rest of the story, where this is going. Neither of them knows what they are doing precisely, but they figure it out. Rudo has a vague idea, and Taku has seen how it’s done, on the internet secretly on his smartphone at home. Eventually, they figure out how sex works, and now there’s no stopping them. It’s not uncommon at 15 and 16 years not to fully understand the consequences of their actions, after all their biology teachers always skimmed over the ‘embarrassing parts’. And Rudo and Taku know that if you do it standing, Rudo can’t get pregnant; sperm can’t compete with the pull of gravity.
It’s only a matter of weeks before Rudo realizes something is wrong. This is the second menses she’s missed. She never ever skips a month. For the three years since she started menstruating, she’s never missed a month, after the inconsistent initial year. She can’t tell her mother because she knows what this could mean, even though she is not vomiting in the morning like they always show on TV. Maybe it’s nothing, perhaps it will go away; at this point she can only hope and pray, and wear baggy clothes at home.
Back at school after the holiday, Rudo struggles to hide her growing belly, her only comfort the sweet things Taku whispers to her, trying to hide his panic. The truth couldn’t be hidden forever. The boarding mistress in Rudo’s hostel soon notices something amiss. The case blows up. Rudo and Taku are put through a hearing, and as punishment, Taku receives a thorough beating from the school headmaster. Rudo’s parents are called, and she is expelled from school. The school head cannot have a pregnant girl in school, what kind of example that would set to other girls. Her mother weeps pitifully, and her father can barely look at her. They know no school will take her now. A pregnant Form 4 girl, in the first term of the school year. She’ll have to sit out the year. Unfortunately, her father is wondering if keeping her in school is worth it if she’s just going to spread her legs for another idiot.
I can’t begin to imagine how many times this has happened; the girl is expelled, and the boy goes on with his life. Previously the Law in Zimbabwe said nothing about how pregnant girls should be treated, but you would expect that school authorities would treat her with more compassion and empathy. How pregnancy could prevent her brain from working is yet to be understood, and school heads often chose to stand on moral high ground.
The decision of what would happen to girls in these situations was often left in the hands of the school headmaster. While a few chose to allow the girl to remain in school, most often decided on expulsion on the basis of morality. But there’s good news, the new Education Act (No. 15, 2019) passed in parliament bans expulsion of girls from schools on the because of pregnancy. What that headmaster did to Rudo is now illegal.
It’s a triumph for the girl child in Zimbabwe, one to be celebrated. While at Tariro Trust, we do not condone getting pregnant as a child (there are various issues here), we understand that girls can find themselves in that situation for various reasons. When that does happen, there’s nothing more to do than deal with the situation as fairly as possible, with the girl’s future in mind. If you hear a case of a girl expelled from her school because she’s pregnant, report it…it is now officially illegal.
Author bio:
Yvonne Feresu lives for this. For speaking to readers like you, fighting these battles at your side and hoping that with each written word she can convince you to help make the world a better place too, for girls. She writes a…lot, and volunteers for Tariro
March 18, 2020
Hi all
We hope we find you well. Find attached our 2019 Annual Report. Our gratitude to you all for the support.
March 2, 2020
We are slowly making the shift towards de-stigmatizing mental illness, and raising awareness about best practices for good mental health, and how to recognize illness, but there’s a section of our society we often forget in all this, children. It’s a misconception that teenagers and pre-teens can’t suffer from mental illness and health problems. You often hear, “Unonetswa nei mwana mudiki akaita sewe?” Loosely translated, “What could possibly stress you out, young as you are?”, and yet we fail to understand that young people often grapple with their own pressures and health issues.
Consequences of unaddressed mental illness in children are all around us, and they leave tragedy in their wake. In October 2019, an 18-year old pupil from Churchill High School in Harare committed suicide (), he jumped off a building in the city centre. Now, most people would be horrified by this and ask what could possibly have gone wrong, yet this boy showed all the signs of mental illness (). He displayed suicide ideation, which is when an individual constantly thinks about suicide, for some people it never goes beyond that, but for others, it develops into suicide intention, and they attempt suicide…some, like this boy, succeed.
The story is heart-breaking, and perhaps the loss of life could have been prevented had this young man received necessary counselling or therapy from trained professionals. A child or adult suffering from mental health problems and experiencing suicide ideation can be brought back from this dark place, there’s proof of that. Here’s a personal account written by another young person, an 18-year old girl suffering from an Anxiety Disorder who was prompted to write this in response to the boy’s suicide. Her identity has been protected for privacy’s sake, but she refers to herself as Anxious Smurf.
I really want to tell someone how I felt about the Churchill upper sixth student who took his own life by jumping off the third floor of the Parkade. Yes, I know suicide is something that has become something that we hear about often. This was definitely not the first time I have heard about a person who committed suicide but the difference this time around is that it did affect me. I didn’t know this boy, I had never met him and I didn’t know his story. So telling someone or reacting strongly to this issue is something that people won’t understand and you are probably wondering how it affected me then.
According to people the reason he did it was because he felt as if he had failed his examinations (do note that he was not yet done with his exams).
Comments that people made:
“We do not do that even when things are difficult. He was a coward.”
“Hahaha, a space in heaven wasted.”
“He was inconsiderate. He didn’t even consider his parents’ feelings.”
Even the way some people laughed about it made me angry.
I, for one, when I heard about this tragedy and the alleged reason I refused to simply settle for the, “it was exam stress that pushed him.” I simply said there should be more.
I got emotional and angry. When I saw the headline I wanted to cry but I didn’t. I swallowed my tears. Why did I want to cry?
I didn’t know him, but the reason I wanted to cry was because I felt sorry for him. Yes, I know I am not the only who felt that way. I felt that way because I know what it feels like to have suicidal thoughts, but what saddened me the most is he lost the battle. I was successful because I cried out for help and I got help. Not everyone is blessed with a parent who understands and accepts that we are mentally ill and tries finding a way to get the necessary help.
(I can never thank my family enough, who supported me and still continue to support me especially my mom. I know it was hard for her to learn about my thoughts and what I was going through.)
I know how it feels having a little voice that persistently tells you to hang yourself from a tree that is deep in the park; to overdose on tablets or to run in front of a moving car or have a little voice that prays, yes, that prays that ‘God please can an accident just happen and I die but everyone else is okay or that a car ignores the traffic light signals.’ The urge is so real and not listening to it is actually a battle. Sometimes you feel as if you are actually moving towards the little voice or have a feeling that you want to just disappear. I won’t lie it was scary and these thoughts scared me. They were painful thoughts.
Then another thought crossed my mind, it could have been me.
Now when my brother and his friends laughed about it, I wanted to say that, ‘do you know that it could have been me just a different case scenario?’. It could just be your friend or sibling but then I remembered that I didn’t really tell my brother why I was admitted at a halfway house.
His death wasn’t the thing that made me emotional rather it was what he went through mentally and emotionally that led to his death. It’s not easy.
We don’t just get to the conclusion that we want to end it all. It’s because our fears will be eating us alive, the anxiety and everything seems to be a lot. Maybe for him, it was different but when we get to some point we will be gone, by then existing, but not living. Alive but not living.
I just thought you would understand. I have so much but it’s all jumbled up but I tried.
-Anxious Smurf, 2019.
Reading her lived experience gives one an insight into what it must be like to grapple with dark thoughts, with no light in sight. Compassion towards young people displaying signs of mental health problems will take us a long way towards guarding against its negative and sometimes tragic consequences. So I appeal to all of you to always be on the lookout for such problems in children. Listen to their problems without belittling or judging them and seek professional help when they request it or start behaving out of character or show signs of extreme sadness/stress/fear. There are many symptoms of mental illness and health problems and it’s up to us to learn about them and react proactively.
Tariro is actively engaged in raising awareness on mental health and as Tariro we have come to realise mental health issues do not spare anyone as late last year we experienced a suicide attempt by one of the girls we support. Tariro recently received a grant from Kutsinhira’s ZCDP (Zimbabwe Community Development Project) which will go towards empowering and the capacity building of Tariro supported students and their peers on mental health awareness. The main objective of the project is to empower girls and young women with knowledge of mental health issues. The project aims to increase the girls and young women’s awareness and ability to speak out freely on mental health issues and also on how to access services and treatment for mental health issues. The envisaged outcomes of the project are, girls and young women will be aware of mental health issues and will amplify their confidence and ability to speak out on mental health issues and secondly, the girls and young women will be in a position to assist their peers who are having mental health issues.
Author bio:
Yvonne Feresu lives for this. For speaking to readers like you, fighting these battles at your side and hoping that with each written word she can convince you to help make the world a better place too, for girls. She writes a…lot, you can find her on her blog. http://blog.yvonneferesu.co.zw// . Yvonne volunteers for Tariro .
February 1, 2020
Children have always been the more vulnerable members of our societies, with the girl child the more severely disadvantaged of the two genders. From being given less preference when it comes to education, to heading households as child brides, young girls have had the rough end of the stick in most scenarios. Girls in Zimbabwe are no exception to this.
It wasn’t so long ago that child marriages were perfectly legal in Zimbabwe, and to no surprise, the country had and still has one of the highest rates of child marriages in sub-Saharan Africa. The implications of this are vast and profound, and the most obvious one being the continuous sexual abuse of minors, statutory rape. But the ramifications don’t end there. The likelihood of continuing with education after a child marriage is extremely low, thus the girls are pulled out of school, and become a part of the many, uneducated women fighting to etch a living for their families.
To aggravate the situation further, these girls are at high risk for acquiring HIV from spouses they have been fostered on with no prior HIV tests taken. The majority of child marriages involve a young girl and a much older, mature man who’s likely been sexually active for a long time, probably with multiple partners. Having been exposed to the virus, these girls soon become mothers, and without proper education and health care (a service poorer communities often go without) will pass on the virus to their newborns. The ripples that emanate from child marriages are wide and far-reaching.
As of 2017-2018, the number of girls married before they can legally vote or reach A’Level in Zimbabwe can fill about four stadiums with barely any room to breathe; and those married before 15, an age at which some are yet to develop breasts, can fill half of a stadium. It’s not all grim news and frightening statistics, there is some good news. In 2018 the government finally passed abolished child marriages in response to vocal lobbyists and advocates. Whilst this law does not eradicate the occurrences of child marriages entirely and certainly not immediately, the consequences of breaking the law may act as a deterrent and will create a defence for the potential child brides.
Despite the good news, history has proven that the mere existence of a law does not change societal behaviour immediately, sometimes if at all, especially without the active effort from community members to abide by the law. Being vigilant and watching out for such cases is important. Teaching children, men and women and the elderly the dangers of child marriages is also important. Educating girls, especially young orphaned girls who are in danger of falling prey to the attentions of older men without the watchful eyes of parents or caring guardians, will go a long way in safeguarding their future. Sometimes the parents and guardians themselves are the biggest threat to these girls as they may marry them off at an incredibly tender age for various reasons including religious and economic gain.
At Tariro Trust we believe in educating young orphaned girls ensuring they can take care of themselves in future and are aware of their rights, the dangers of HIV and AIDS and the role they must play in society as responsible citizens. Be part of the movement to protect girls and learn how you can get involved.
Sources: tradingeconomics.com
girlsnotbrides.org
Photo cred: Photo by uncoveredlens from Pexels
Author bio:
Yvonne Feresu lives for this. For speaking to readers like you, fighting these battles at your side and hoping that with each written word she can convince you to help make the world a better place too, for girls. She writes a…lot and volunteers for Tariro .
May 6, 2019
Tariro: Hope and Health for Zimbabwe’s Orphans
2018 Annual Report
Dear Tariro Supporters,
Thank you for your faithful support! This year, we celebrated 15 years serving young women and girls in the high-density suburbs of Zimbabwe. The Tariro Board and I have never been more proud of our students. It was a great year: two of our students graduated from tertiary institutions across the country and two of our students did exceptionally well in their Ordinary Level examinations. Another student switched to a vocational program after completing her O-Levels – an exciting development for Tariro. In consultation with her teachers and parents, Tariro agreed to support her in a program that would equip her with a dependable, economic skill.
This is a short summary, but you can see more details about our program and our 2018 financial report in the full Annual Report.
The most significant development in 2018 was that we were able to launch our poultry project with our students! The Young Women’s Poultry Project teaches our students entrepreneurship and is a source of income for our program. The project was made possible courtesy of the United States Embassy through a grant from United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). We are hopeful that the poultry project will be dependable source of income in Zimbabwe and that our students and their families will learn business skills through the program that they will be able to benefit their families.
Another significant development in 2018 was the severe economic downturn that began in the second half of the year. For the second time in Tariro’s history, we are facing serious economic upheaval with skyrocketing prices for commodities and fuel. We are making strategic decisions, such as buying supplies in bulk and limiting the number of new students enrolled, to insure ourselves against the rising costs in Zimbabwe, and to make sure our budget is not over-extended while we continue to provide holistic, quality support for our students.
Despite the financial and economic challenges that the country continues to face, our work of educating and empowering girls continues to be recognized by corporations and individuals in Zimbabwe. ZB Bank is a new corporate sponsor in Zimbabwe, Nashua donated a heavy-duty photocopier/printer, and we again received cash donations from CBZ Holdings.
There are so many girls worldwide who cannot go to school while they have their period because they do not have access to feminine hygiene products. Making sure our students can always go to school is a core part of Tariro’s program. We are very grateful for the donation this year of a full year’s supply of sanitary pads for our students! We received sanitary pads from an American philanthropist, Chanita Foster, a donation that has helped Tariro weather the rising costs for sanitary ware in Zimbabwe. In 2019, we will be investigating options for washable feminine hygiene products for our students.
The Tariro Music and Dance Ensemble continues to make us proud. This year the ensemble performed twice at the Harare Agricultural Show and at a wedding, where they received a monetary donation. Four of our students also participated at the Dreams Marimba Camp, made possible by scholarships they received from Dreams Marimba. The ensemble is a source of pride and confidence for our students.
Tariro is a Shona word that means hope, and true to its name, Tariro continues to bring hope to many girls who could have dropped out of school. Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness. Despite challenges and problems these girls continue to face, their future now looks bright.
Thanks to Tariro and its supporters and donors, Tariro gives hope to our students that they will be okay despite the current economic situation. Thank you for your continued support.
Elizabeth Davis
President, Tariro Board of Directors
March 28, 2019
On the morning of Friday, 15 March, Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe were hit by Cyclone Idai, causing massive floods that destroyed houses, swept away fields, uprooted trees, and demolished bridges. One of the worst storms to hit Southern Africa in decades, Cyclone Idai has unleashed a humanitarian crisis affecting nearly one million people and forcing more than 80,000 from their homes. The storm lashed eastern Zimbabwe, leaving about 150 dead and a death toll that could rise to as much as 500, local government minister July Moyo said after a cabinet briefing. Worst hit was Chimanimani and Chipinge in Manicaland, an eastern province that borders Mozambique. The crisis has been declared a national disaster.
Crops in the affected areas were destroyed and livestock lost. At least 20,000 houses have been partially damaged while 600 others were totally destroyed. The government is struggling to cope with the huge influx of affected households who are now sheltered in churches and temporary structures set up by UN agencies. Several aid agencies are assisting government efforts in the search and rescue operations and in the distribution of food aid. The people of Zimbabwe have come out in their numbers to donate food, clothes, toiletries and many have volunteered to assist wherever the expertise is needed.
Help is still needed as the crisis is far from over. Those affected by the cyclone find themselves in a desperate situation, with many unmet vital humanitarian needs such as access to food, clothing, blankets, sanitary wear, diapers, soap, bathing buckets, and toiletries, access to health, communication and education. The dire situation is further compounded for people with vulnerabilities, more specifically for women and girls as they struggle for access to sanitary wear and basic hygiene. There is a pressing need to provide immediate assistance to minimize loss of life and to ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable are covered first.
In Harare, where most of the Tariro students are, the effects of Cyclone Idai were very minimal. Harare only experienced cold and wet weather. None of the Tariro-supported students were directly affected by the cyclone, and they continue with their schooling. Tariro will be donating sanitary ware to support women and girls affected by the crisis.
If you would like to make a donation to support the victims of Cyclone Idai, please review this list compiled by PBS of charities responding to the disaster. Thank you!
October 15, 2018
Feature Student
Brenda Bangani, despite having gone through traumatic experiences resulting in loss of family members and her family home, Brenda has remained resilient, displaying positive attitudes and a dedicated to her goals. Although she was at risk of dropping out of school, Tariro was able to come to her rescue.
Brenda is 15 and lives in Southly Park with her mother and two siblings. She is in Form 2 (Grade 8) at Glen Norah One High School. Brenda lost her father in February 2017 after he committed suicide by burning himself to death .Their house was also destroyed as he burnt himself in the house. Brenda witnessed her father burn to death and their house destroyed by fire. To complicate matters, their relatives and extended family abandoned them as they alleged Brenda’s family was tainted by evil spirits. Having lost their sole breadwinner, life became extremely difficult for the family. They would go for days without food, and Brenda’s attendance at school became erratic.
Thankfully, the head of Glen Norah High School approached Tariro to consider admitting Brenda to the education assistance programme. After a thorough assessment of her situation Tariro decided to support her. Since then she has never missed a day of school. Her school fees are paid on time and she has school supplies to last each term. Through Tariro’s support, she is able to see herself as a survivor, and she is grateful to all of the donors and supporters.Brenda recently joined Tariro’s traditional music and dance group, and hopes to become a community worker and help her community develop.
Cholera hits Harare
A cholera emergency has been declared in Zimbabwe’s capital Harare. According to the World Health Organization, as of October 5th, 2018, 50 people have since died from the disease, with 8535 cumulative cases, including 163 laboratory-confirmed cases (http://www.who.int/csr/don/05-october-2018-cholera-zimbabwe/en/). Cases of Typhoid and Salmonella have also been reported, not only complicating matters but has caused many to fear a repeat of the outbreak that killed thousands in 2008.The current outbreak is concentrated in Tariro’s catchment area of the High Glen district, with the high density suburbs Glen View and Budiriro hardest hit. Poor water supply, sanitation failures of blocked and leaking sewers, and a failure to collect sanitation and waste are contributing factors. Some schools in the affected areas have been temporarily closed.Thankfully, none of the Tariro supported students have been reported ill and we hope the outbreak will be contained soon. International aid agencies and donors have chipped in to support the government fight the outbreak.
Corporate world support
ZB Holdings Donation
One of the leading financial institutions in Zimbabwe, ZB Holdings, has extended its corporate social responsibility (CSR) to Tariro with a donation of U.S $1,000.00 and an assortment of library books we are grateful to this gesture and look forward to this relationship continuing, as it greatly helps our most vulnerable and disadvantaged.
CBZ Holdings Donation official presentation
In February this year, Zimbabwe’s largest financial service group by asset base CBZ Holdings donated U.S. $7,474.00 towards our girl education assistance programme. Due to circumstances beyond CBZ Holdings control, the official presentation of the cheque could not be held then, but as shown below, was successfully held in September.
Graduation
It has been a blessed month for Tariro with one of our students Pamela graduating in August 2018 with a National Diploma in Rural and Urban planning from the Harare Polytechnic College. Two more students are due to graduate this October – Jane with a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Human Resources Management from Midlands State University and Edwinner with a Bachelor of Science honours degree in Social Work from Bindura University of Science Education. Congrats girls!
June 3, 2018
Dear friends,
I am honoured to once again present Tariro’s Annual Report to you. This year has been full of achievements for our students and the Tariro program as a whole.
Thanks to the excellent leadership of our Executive Coordinator in Zimbabwe, Simbarashe Kanyimo, the Tariro program has been able to:
On the US side, we are grateful for the continued support from grant organizations that have supported us for many years, faithful volunteers, and the many marimba and mbira musical ensembles who host benefit concerts for Tariro every year.
Behind the scenes, I am especially proud of our new website, especially the beautiful new pictures showing our students involved with the Tariro program. One new feature on the website is “Fundraising Resources”, which our supporters can access to download Tariro brochures and background material for your own fundraisers to support Tariro. Another administrative change is a new platform for online donations – accessible from our website www.tariro.org – which lowers the transaction fees. That means more of your donation goes directly to supporting our students achieve their dreams of finishing their education and breaking free of the cycle of poverty and hardship they were born into!
Please click here to view the full report. Thank you for your continued support for Tariro! You are changing the future, one girl at a time.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Davis
President, Board of Directors
May 18, 2018
My sister’s keeper
In my rural home, there was a 6 year-old girl who was sexually abused by her paternal grandfather, who happened to be HIV Positive. She informed her grandmother, who surprisingly threatened the little girl that if she reports the matter elsewhere, she would kill her!!!! Another story, is also that of a girl who was sexually abused by a man in her neighborhood whilst another lady was pinning her down. These two stories are just amongst the billion ones we hear each and every year where women help or facilitate in the abuse of other women and girls. It is, indeed a sad reality and this makes me wonder if ever, as girls we are going to fight for each other, be each others’ shoulder and mostly importantly each others’ keeper.
It is the stepmother who makes her step-daughter yearn for her dead or divorced mother everyday because of the ill-treatment she has to suffer in the hands of a woman like her.
It is women who conceals and cover up cases of rape against the girl child within the household.
It is a group of women in the neighborhood who makes the life of a teenage girl in that neighborhood terrible through being on her case every day. They forget that they, too, at some point were once teenage girls.
It is women who laugh and joke about a young girl who got impregnated and left alone by the boyfriend. Is it that hard to be there for each other?
It is women who justify the sexual abuse of a teenage girl arguing that she was dressed inappropriately thus she deserves what befalls her.
It seems like us, women, aid in the perpetuation of sexual, physical, emotional abuse against each other. This is so because we just can’t stand up for each other. Instead of fighting for each other, we fight each other. I believe the world is going to be a better place if we, as ladies start caring for each other, loving each other, be each other’s shoulder to lean on. From today onwards I’m going to be my sisters’ keeper.
The writer of the article is Melody Mutemasango, a young lady who has benefitted from Tariro’s girl education assistance programme. She is a holder of a Bachelor of Science Honors degree in Sociology (University of Zimbabwe).
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