“If there was no one to help me to pay my school fees then I would have dropped out of school…I want to thank those from Tariro girls program who are helping us to pay school fees.”
– Elizabeth M., Tariro student
Founded in 2003, Tariro is dedicated to empowering and educating young women and girls in the high-density neighborhoods of Harare, Zimbabwe. Over the years, we have supported more than 300 girls through secondary education by providing all-inclusive tuition sponsorships that cover school fees, exam fees, uniforms, and school supplies. A significant number of Tariro’s students have gone on to enrol at various university or post-secondary institutions.
According to the Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey 2015, 70% of new HIV infections are found in adolescent girls. Young women in communities affected by HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe are in extreme jeopardy of dropping out of school due to extreme poverty and an inability to pay school fees. Leaving school puts young women at high risk of contracting HIV in large part because many young women leaving school are turning to prostitution, exposing them to HIV infection.
Tariro’s work with Zimbabwean girls emphasizes the importance of women’s education and empowerment as an effective response to the AIDS epidemic. Attending school dramatically reduces the risk that young Zimbabwean women will become infected with HIV/AIDS. By educating young women, Tariro empowers them to build a future free from poverty and disease and ensures our students have the opportunity to live prosperous and fulfilling lives as valued members of their communities.
Sponsorship for orphaned girls
Since it was founded, Tariro has expanded from a dozen sponsored students to 43 sponsored students in 2017. All of our students have been severely affected by poverty and disease, and many have lost one or both parents to illness. Typically, our girls live with extended family members who serve as their guardians, keeping with traditional practices of caring for orphaned children in Zimbabwean communities. Tariro identifies students for our program by consulting with with community leaders, including headmasters at local schools, church elders, and traditional leaders.
For each of our sponsored students, Tariro provides a comprehensive range of services, including:
Tarrio has students at all levels of education from primary school to tertiary, including one student at a special needs school. The majority of Tariro students are enrolled at the secondary-school level. The costs of attending secondary school are much higher than those of attending primary school, and girls who have been orphaned by AIDS are especially likely to drop out once they are faced with the higher costs of continuing their education. Financial assistance during secondary school is therefore critical to keeping young women orphans in school.
Tariro commits to supporting each of our students through the completion of secondary school. When possible, Tariro supports our highly successful students at the tertiary level or helps them identify scholarships to continue their education.
Investing in Academic Success
Beyond school and exam fees, Tariro provides essential academic support to our sponsored students that makes attending school possible. By providing school uniforms, school supplies, bus fare, and feminine hygiene products, Tariro ensures our students are always able to attend school and have all the supplies they need. We also support our students’ academic and future success by offering a lending library, tutoring, and mentoring.
A Holistic Approach
Tariro continues to evolve our psycho-social support and protection activities. Research shows that this type of support not only helps improve school retention and outcomes but also helps to fully empower and equip our students to break the cycle of poverty and disease.
Join us as we bring tariro – hope – to many girls who face a bleak future. Please donate now and learn how to get more involved.