To all girls you are worth it. You are important. Be you and no one else.
The whole of this month we will profile some of our sponsored students. On this day we profile Pride R. Tariro has supported Pride since she was in Form one, now she is in her second year at Midlands State University.
Pride lost her mother when she was very young. Her father remarried and her stepmother did not like her.
Her father and stepmother gave up on her and cut her dreams short by deciding not to fund her education after she wrote her grade seven examinations. They pushed her to get married at 13 years. Pride was devastated. Pride found her lost joy through her teachers who believed in her when her family did not, they saw her full potential as a hard working girl and secured a form one place for her at Domboramwari High School in Epworth. Her teachers believed someone would come on board and support this academically gifted young girl. Their belief became a reality. Through the Domboramwari School headmaster, Pride was referred to Tariro Trust. Touched by her plight and seeing the potential in her, Tariro Trust took her on board and began paying her school fees, provided her with stationery, uniforms, text books and sanitary wear. She did exceptionally well in her Ordinary level examinations and proceeded to Advanced Level at Oriel Girls High where she passed her Advanced Level examinations. Pride enrolled at the Midlands State University where she is now a second year student studying Banking and Finance. Through Tariro Trust’s help Pride has managed to excel in her studies and continues to move towards being an independent, empowered and educated young lady. Her dream is to start up her own micro finance company which will provide loans to young people so that they can start viable income generating projects. She believes the sky is the limit.
It has been an 8 year journey with Tariro Trust and Pride hopes Tariro will see her through her tertiary education. Pride is 22 and she is a focused, sociable, motived lady who is moving towards excellence and her journey continues…… thanks to Tariro’s wonderful donors who enable us to help girls like Pride.
January 15, 2018
POLITENESS NYERE – Our feature student is Politeness Nyere who graduated last year with a first class degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management from the University of Zimbabwe. Polite as she is affectionately known by her peers, is a role model and an inspiration to the girls supported by Tariro .
Politeness was born on the 18th of May 1994 in Mhondoro. She stayed in Mhondoro until 2006 when her mother passed on. She did her primary school at St Michaels Primary School in Mhondoro. After the passing on of her mother, she moved to Masvingo to stay with her uncle and the arrangement did not work out until she moved to Harare to stay with her father in Highfield, Harare. Her father who had now remarried, was unemployed and he struggled to pay her fees. She had episodes where she was sent home from school because of failure to pay fees. Polite was identified as a child in difficult circumstances by the then Tariro Trust Coordinators Denver and Nyasha who spoke to her father about helping her. Jennifer the founder of Tariro visited her place in Highfield for assessment and she was admitted into the Tariro Trust program. Tariro Trust then paid her fees from Form 2 to 4 at UMAA Institute in Marondera. Tariro Trust provided her with stationery, sanitary wear, groceries and uniforms. Upon completion of her Ordinary level studies and passing with 9 subjects, Mr Kundiona , the founder of UMAA institute volunteered to pay half of her tuition fees at UMAA Institute for her Advanced Level studies. She passed her Advanced Level with 13 points . She enrolled at the University of Zimbabwe where she enrolled for a degree in tourism and hospitality management. She did very well at the University of Zimbabwe and recently graduated with a first class degree. She is a good example to other beneficiaries as they look up to her. Polite enjoys the educational camps offered by Tariro Trust and wishes that they continue offering them. She is very grateful to Tariro Trust and its supporters for the support she got. Without Tariro she would not have completed her education. She hopes Tariro will continue supporting more girls. Polite as a way of paying back to Tariro , she has volunteered to mentor other girls within Tariro.
May 31, 2017
Tariro is delighted to announce that our Annual Report for 2016 is now available! Please see below for the message from the President of the International Board of Directors and click here to view the full report. Many thanks to our many supporters who are joining Tariro in our important mission to educate and empower young Zimbabwean women and girls.
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Dear friends and faithful supporters,
Despite some of the dire conditions in Zimbabwe in 2016, it has been a great year for Tariro. We started off the year by hiring Simbarashe Kanyimo as our new Executive Coordinator in Zimbabwe, and he has had a great year guiding Tariro forward. Simba came to Tariro with more than seven years’ experience in the development and humanitarian field and has been involved in capacity building and communication for the Norwegian Refugee Council, the Centre for Cultural Development Initiatives, the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council-Global Fund Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health project, and Muongoli Home-Based Care Programme run by the Chikombedzi Mission Hospital. Simba has also taught within the school system as a guidance teacher and counsellor, giving him a first-hand knowledge of the schools our students attend. Simba has significant working experience in working with vulnerable communities, orphans, youth, and the “girl child” in difficult circumstances, returnees, refugees and internally displaced persons. We are very lucky to have him on our team! Some of our supporters had the opportunity to meet him in person when he visited Portland and Eugene, Oregon and Victoria, Canada in late 2016.
Within Simba’s first three months on the job, he secured a large corporate grant in Zimbabwe from CBZ Holdings (“CBZ”) that made it possible for us to enrol new students for the first time in two years. We decided to enrol primary school students because we want to establish a long and fruitful relationship with our new beneficiaries. We have so many students currently in tertiary institutions, and soon they will move on from Tariro support to become Tariro alumni. We are excited to welcome new students into the Tariro program, the next generation of young girls who will grow up to complete their education, be firmly rooted in the Tariro community, and be empowered to know that they, too, are valuable contributors to their society.
I think the thing I am most excited about this year is the large grant we got from CBZ. CBZ is Zimbabwe’s largest financial services group by asset base. This is the first time in Tariro’s 13-year history that we have received significant support from a local organization. Our goal is not just to provide education for these young women, but to be a community where we support them and their families, a place where they can explore their dreams and be encouraged and supported to go out and achieve them. We are closely integrated in the communities we serve, and we are delighted and humbled to find support from a new local partner in Harare. If Tariro is to thrive and grow over time, we depend not only on financial support from donors both local and international but on support from the community we serve. This grant from CBZ represents to us that the community is with us in our effort to change the future for these young women. The community is with us, encouraging our students to pursue their education and their dreams.
Simba closed out the year with an incredibly successful trip to the United States of America and to Canada during our Fall Fundraising Campaign. He was able to talk to our supporters about Tariro and share his passion for our work and in seeing our students’ lives change because they are able to finish their education. Simba participated in promoting the Quite for Zimbabwe and selling raffle tickets, updated Tariro supporters about Tariro programs and plans, and met with high school students to talk about Tariro.
We have big plans for 2017 – including a year-long program to educate and empower our students on sexual and reproductive health and rights, and career mentoring and counselling. We are also looking into starting a poultry farming project, which will serve as a source of income for Tariro while acting as a method for teaching business and entrepreneurial skills to our students, in an environmentally responsible way.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Davis, President, International Board of Directors
April 23, 2017
On Saturday 25 March, the beloved Quilt for Zimbabwe was delivered to the lucky winner at his home in Freeland, Washington!
In the year since it was lovingly crafted by the Cama Beach Quilters on Comano Island, the quilt was displayed at eight different events. People eager to win quilt bought approximately 600 raffle tickets, raising more than $2,700 in raffle sales and donations. Proceeds benefited two charities working in Zimbabwe, Tariro and Portland-Mutare Sister City Association.
Tariro’s own Executive Coordinator, Simba Kanyimo, helped with raffle sales while he was in Portland, Oregon last fall to talk to donors about Tariro and our mission. Everywhere the quilt was shown, it attracted attention and admiration!
A HUGE THANK YOU to the talented quilters who designed and made this beautiful quilt!
Tariro wishes to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the lucky winner and our thanks to Paul, Peter and Peg Hayes, who shepherded this project over the last year and for their faithful support for Zimbabwe. Thank you!
April 7, 2017
Tariro : Hope and Health for Zimbabwe Orphans joins the rest of the world in commemorating the World Health Day. World Health Day is celebrated on 7 April every year to mark the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organisation and it provides us with a unique opportunity to mobilise action around a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world.
Depression affects people of all ages, from all walks of life, in all countries. It causes mental anguish and impacts on people’s ability to carry out even the simplest everyday tasks, with sometimes devastating consequences for relationships with family and friends and the ability to earn a living. At worst, depression can lead to suicide, now the second leading cause of death among 15-29-year olds.
Yet, depression can be prevented and treated. A better understanding of what depression is, and how it can be prevented and treated, will help reduce the stigma associated with the condition, and lead to more people seeking help.
The overall goal of the 2017 World Health day campaign is to make sure that more people with depression, in all countries, seek and get help. We are called upon to focus on preventing and treating depression.
More specifically the campaign seeks to achieve the following:
What is depression?
According to the Mayo clinic – Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems.
Everyone experiences an occasional blue mood; depression is a more pervasive experience of repetitive negative rumination, bleak outlook, and lack of energy. It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be willed or wished away. People with depression cannot merely “pull themselves together” and get better. There is some evidence that, painful as depression is, it serves a positive purpose, bringing with it ways of thinking that force people to focus on problems as a prelude to solving them.
Not everyone who is depressed or manic experiences every symptom. Some people experience a few symptoms, some many. Severity of symptoms varies among individuals and also varies over time. Some of the symptoms are
There is no single known cause of depression. Rather, it likely results from a combination of genetic, biochemical, environmental, and psychological factors. Trauma, loss of a loved one, a difficult relationship, or any stressful situation that overwhelms the ability to cope may trigger a depressive episode. Subsequent depressive episodes may occur with or without an obvious trigger.
Common signs and symptoms of depression in children and teenagers are similar to those of adults, but there can be some differences. In younger children, symptoms of depression may include sadness, irritability, clinginess, worry, aches and pains, refusing to go to school, or being underweight.
In teens, symptoms may include sadness, irritability, feeling negative and worthless, anger, poor performance or poor attendance at school, feeling misunderstood and extremely sensitive, using drugs or alcohol, eating or sleeping too much, self-harm, loss of interest in normal activities, and avoidance of social interaction. Let’s be on the lookout for depression symptoms in our children.
Research with brain-imaging technologies, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), shows that the brains of people who have depression look different than those of people without depression. The parts of the brain responsible for regulating mood, thinking, sleep, appetite, and behaviour appear to function abnormally. In addition, the chemicals that brain cells use to communicate—neurotransmitters—may also be affected. It is not clear which changes seen in the brain may be the cause of depression and which ones the effect. Some types of depression tend to run in families, suggesting there may be some genetic vulnerability to the disorder.
Even in the most severe cases, depression is highly treatable. The condition is often cyclical, and early treatment may prevent or forestall recurrent episodes. Many studies show that the most effective treatment is cognitive behavioural therapy, which addresses problematic thought patterns, with or without the use of antidepressant drugs. In addition, evidence is quickly accumulating that regular mindfulness meditation, on its own or combined with cognitive therapy, can stop depression before it starts by effectively disengaging attention from the repetitive negative thoughts that often set in motion the downward spiral of mood.
As we commemorate this day let’s give a thought to all those suffering from depression. Let’s all demand for health policies that recognise the considerable public health burden of depression particularly in marginalised and vulnerable sections of society . Let’s advocate for preventive strategies for depression such as social policies aimed at increasing sex equality , eliminating poverty and building and strengthening social support networks for populations at risk.
STOP Depression! Count your blessings every day. You will find more things to be grateful for.
March 8, 2017
International Women’s Day is Wednesday, March 8, and has been observed for decades as a celebration of women’s achievements across the globe and resounds the call for gender equality. International Women’s Day is a worldwide event that celebrates women’s achievements – from the political to the social – while calling for gender equality.
It has been observed since the early 1900s. Its roots can be traced to 1908, when 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding voting rights, better pay and shorter working hours. A year later, the first National Woman’s Day was observed in the US on February 28, in accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America.
In 1910, a woman called Clara Zetkin – leader of the ‘women’s office’ for the Social Democratic Party in Germany – tabled the idea of an International Women’s Day. She suggested that every country should celebrate women on one day every year to push for their demands.
A conference of more than 100 women from 17 countries agreed to her suggestion and IWD was formed. In 1911, it was celebrated for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on March 19.
In 1913, it was decided to transfer IWD to March 8, and it has been celebrated on that day ever since. The day was only recognized by the United Nations in 1975, but ever since it has created a theme each year for the celebration. It is not affiliated with any one group, but brings together governments, women’s organizations, corporations and charities. The day is marked around the world with arts performances, talks, and rallies, networking events, conferences and marches. Countries celebrate it in different ways. It is an official holiday in a number of places including: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China (for women only), Cuba, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Madagascar (for women only), Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal (for women only), Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zambia.
The original aim – to achieve full gender equality for women the world – has still not been realized. A gender pay gap persists across the globe and women are still not present in equal numbers in business or politics. Figures show that globally, women’s education, health and violence towards women is still worse than that of men.
According to the World Economic Forum, the gender gap won’t close until 2186.On IWD women across the world come together to force the world to recognize these inequalities – while also celebrating the achievements of women who have overcome these barriers.
The theme for IWD 2017 is #BeBoldForChange – encouraging people to step up and take groundbreaking action to help drive gender equality and create a world where every woman feels empowered, where every woman is independent, inspired and self-fulfilled .It calls for an inclusive environment and believes that regardless of gender, the full value of each individual’s contribution can be realized only when we treat one another with respect, trust and dignity
Tariro has over the years helped drive gender equality by educating and empowering the girl child in high density suburbs of Harare. Tariro’s work with Zimbabwean girls emphasizes the importance of women’s education as an effective response to the AIDS epidemic, early marriages, teenage pregnancies and other socio-economic challenges. – Tariro subscribes to Nelson Mandela’s assertion that “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. For each of its sponsored students, Tariro provides a comprehensive range of services which include: paying each student’s school fees; examination fees; purchasing uniforms and supplies; sanitary wear; we make textbooks available through a lending library. Tariro believes books permit us to voyage through time, to tap the wisdom of our ancestors. The library connects the students with the insight and knowledge of the greatest minds that ever existed, the best teachers, drawn from the entire planet and from all history to instruct them without tiring and to inspire them to make their own contribution to the collective knowledge of the human species. Currently Tariro is supporting 32 girls (12 in tertiary institutions, 1 at Danhiko Special School, 2 in primary school and 18 in secondary school). Funds permitting we hope to support an additional 10 girls this year.
We at Tariro also believe that – educating a person only in the mind and not also in morals is to educate a menace to society thus we offer extra-curricular activities including an annual conference on HIV prevention, psychosocial support and monthly sessions on sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Education is very important for every child whether boy or girl. It is sad that some communities still discriminate against the education of the girl child. About 57million children around the world are not going to school. The report, Children Still Battling to go to School, finds that 95% of the 28.5 million children not getting a primary school education live in low and lower-middle income countries – 44% in sub-Saharan Africa, 19% in south and west Asia and 14% in the Arab states, UNESCO said. Girls make up 55% of the total and were often the victims of rape and other sexual violence that accompanies armed conflicts, UNESCO said. As the world celebrates International Women’s Day let us look at some of the reasons why girls should get an education.
4 Less Child marriages: Child marriage – in some cases involving girls as young as 6 or 8 – almost always results in the end of a girl’s schooling. The result is illiterate or barely literate young mothers without adequate tools to build healthy, educated families. On average, for every year a girl stays in school past fifth grade, her marriage is delayed a year. Educated girls typically marry later, when they are better able to bear and care for their children.
These and many more are some of the valuable reasons why we should all support education for girls. For every boy that is educated, every girl should be educated too. Help us educate the girl child by donating to Tariro.
You can donate to Tariro online through our Fall Fundraising Campaign site or via our website. You can also mail your donations directly to PO Box 50273, Eugene, OR, 97405. Thank you once again for your support and don’t forget to stay updated with all of Tariro’s endeavors and like Tariro on Facebook!
HAPPY WOMEN’S DAY
Thank you , Tinotenda , Siyabonga Kakhulu , Hikhesile Ngofu , Asante Sana , Ta , Merci ,Gracias , Danke sehr , do jeh , Grazie , Arigato
February 23, 2017
In our efforts to improve our psycho-social programming we decided to engage an Intern Social Worker and in that regard we have engaged Brenda Panganayi a third year Bachelor of Science Honors degree in Social work student at the University of Zimbabwe.
Brenda joined Tariro, late January and will be in charge of our psycho-social thrust up to the end of December 2017. Her duties will include but not limited to: Individual and group counseling for selected beneficiaries and families, as needed; Case management for identified students; Home and school visits; Liaise and advocate for student and parents on issues of social welfare and psycho-social support; Contribute social media materials (blog posts, Facebook posts, twitter posts) related to the social welfare of our beneficiaries and the psycho-social support Tariro provides for our beneficiaries; Attend related conferences and seminars ; assist in grant writing where the intern will work closely with the Executive Coordinator, with special emphasis on grants supporting Tariro’s psycho-social support for beneficiaries ; participate in community collaborative and/or meetings ; initiate localised awareness campaigns on different issues affecting the girl child ; participate in beneficiaries’ monthly meetings and conducting/facilitating monthly extra-curricular activities.
Brenda Panganayi is 22 and she is the first born child in a family of 3. She grew up in Gokwe, a small farming town in the Midlands province where she attended primary school at CZM Primary School. For her secondary and high school education she attended a Catholic School run school, Shungu High School in Kwekwe. She was an integral member of the school debate club, a club that won many accolades. She was also a student leader. Brenda did exceptionally well in her Ordinary and Advanced Level Examinations and this saw her enrolling at the University of Zimbabwe School of Social work.
Brenda grew up in an area where poverty is the order of the day, child marriages are rampant and dropping out of school has become a norm rather than a taboo. As a result of this background the interest to help the disadvantaged in society, in particular girls has grown. Being part of the Tariro family is indeed a dream come true for her as she hopes to turn her passion into action and bring a change to the lives of girls we support. She believes that, ‘what men can do women can do better’.
In her spare time, Brenda enjoys sight-seeing, taking nature walks and playing volleyball. We wish her all the best.
January 25, 2017
The month of November and December saw our Executive Coordinator Simbarashe visit the United States and Canada.
Simbarashe arrived on the 12th of November in New York and had the opportunity to meet Karen one of Tariro’s international board members. The two shared notes on how Tariro can be taken to a another level –key being the need to source funds from corporate institutions in Zimbabwe , the need for strategic partnerships with other like-minded organizations in and outside Zimbabwe and last but not least the need to strengthen our current relationships . Simbarashe then flew to Kentucky to be with his wife who had just been blessed with a baby boy, Anashe. Simbarashe spent some time with his family before embarking on a journey that took him to Oregon and British Columbia.
Eugene
His next port of call was Eugene, Oregon on the 30th of November 2016. It was a wonderful experience for Simba to meet the Oregon community, especially meeting the people who have supported and steered Tariro over the years. Simba was hosted by Marilyn and her husband Hans and he is very grateful to them for their extraordinary hospitality. They made his stay very comfortable and he really felt at home. He had the privilege, courtesy of Marilyn and Hans to visit the Kutsinhira Cultural Arts Centre on two consecutive evenings, where he saw various marimba groups rehearse. He had the opportunity to thank them for the support they have given and continue giving Tariro. He also had the chance to share with them Tariro’s achievements, challenges and plans for the future. Simba was really impressed by their commitment in supporting Tariro, their marimba playing skills and the quality of their marimba sets. He wishes we could have such quality marimba sets in Zimbabwe.
On the 1st of December, late afternoon Simba had the privilege of meeting Cai Emmons of the Emmons Bradlee Family Foundation over a cup of coffee. The Foundation has been supporting Tariro over the years. Simba shared with her Tariro’s 2016 achievements, the challenges Tariro is facing and the challenges Zimbabwe is facing as a country. Simba also shared with her Tariro’s plans to engage a social work intern , embark on an income generating project (if we get funding from US Embassy ) and the need to reach out to more girls in need. Cai assured Simba of her family foundation will continuing supporting Tariro.
Later that evening Simba graced a fundraising dinner hosted for him by the Eugene community at Jeff and Gerianne’s place. He had the opportunity to share with those present his vision for Tariro, what Tariro has achieved in 2016 and why it is important to send the girl child to school in developing countries like Zimbabwe. It was really great for Simba to meet people who saw the birth of Tariro such as Jeff.
Portland
Simba then travelled to Portland on the 2nd of December to attend two functions which were being held to raise funds for Tariro. The first function was at the Ford Food and Drink restaurant where Njuzu Mbira were playing .Peter and Paul Hayes were also in attendance selling raffle tickets for the beautiful quilt Attendance was however, low. Simba had the opportunity to talk about Tariro to the few people in attendance. Despite the low turnout Njuzu Mbira gave it their best.
The following day Simba spent the day at Cedarwood Waldorf School Winterfaire with Paul and Peter. They had the opportunity to distribute Tariro brochures, sell raffle tickets and talk to people about Tariro. Almost everyone who visited our stall praised Tariro for the good work they are doing. The raffle quilt was beautifully displayed and we also had information on Tariro displayed. It really was a day well spent. Former pupils taught by Peter volunteered to assist the fundraising initiative by selling raffle tickets in the near future.
Victoria
Simba then travelled to Victoria, Canada on the 4th of December where he attended the Bopoma Marimba Winter event at Oakland Community Centre. It was a well organised event and kudos to Barb and Ted. He was treated to some great mbira music from the Bopoma groups. The performances were really captivating. Simba had the opportunity to thank the Victoria community for supporting the cause of the girl child in Zimbabwe. He shared with them Tariro’s achievements to date and its vision for 2017.
Last but not least, Simba accompanied by Barb visited two high schools in Victoria. His first visit was at Parklands High School where he addressed a social studies class. He shared with them a bit about himself, a bit about Zimbabwe before talking about the plight of the girl child in Zimbabwe. He shared with the class about Tariro – its mission, achievements, challenges and vision for 2017. The students are willing to assist in one way or the other. Simba then travelled to Reynolds High School where he led two focus group discussions of forty five minutes each. He shared with the students’ the history about the colonization of Zimbabwe, the land reform, the economic challenges Zimbabwe is facing, the challenges the girl child faces and the role Tariro is playing to mitigate the challenges girls are facing in the high density suburbs of Harare . The students saw the need to support Tariro and they came up with a number of fundraising initiatives they could undertake at their school. Some of the ideas are as follows:
– Selling cookies at lunch time / bake sales / Lottery/raffles/50-50 draws
– Holding a one day fundraiser –music, sport, dance etc.
– Lobbying shops such as Tim Hortons which is frequented by students at Reynolds High School to donate 25cents to Tariro for each coffee cup bought by a Reynolds student.
– Use of Go Fundme
– Hosting a marimba festival at the school.
– Loonies day
– Reynolds students will take up an ambassadorial role for Tariro, fundraising and engaging other students at other schools and also engaging local businesses.
– Profiling of girls in Zimbabwe and sharing with the Reynolds School community and have people donate towards a girl of their choice.
– Bottle drive money to Tariro.
It was great to get such ideas from the students.
The visit was really an eye-opener for Simba. It was really humbling to see how committed the community in USA and Canada is, in helping the cause of the girls we support in Zimbabwe. The level of commitment is unmatched and it is Simba’s wish that back home, communities can also have that level of commitment in helping the girl child. Simba is really grateful to everyone who made his stay very comfortable and he emphasizes that he did meet wonderful people in the United States and Canada.
December 4, 2016
We are delighted that Tariro’s Executive Coordinator, Simba Kanyimo, will be visiting the Eugene, Portland, and Victoria in December!
TODAY Simba will be in …. Victoria, Canada.
Sunday, 4 December at 2pm
Join Simba at the Bopoma Winter Event @ Oaklands Community Centre, 2827 Belmont Avenue, Victoria. (please note the venue change)
Simba will be talking about Tariro and sharing in with local musicians and long-time Tariro supporters for a special event. Don’t miss out!
See you there!
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