THE NGO NETWORK ALLIANCE PROJECT - an online community for Zimbabwean activists  
 View archive by sector
 
 
    HOME THE PROJECT DIRECTORYJOINARCHIVESEARCH E:ACTIVISMBLOGSMSFREEDOM FONELINKS CONTACT US
 

 


Back to Index

Nkayi calls for more Padare / Enkundleni programmes
Padare/Enkundleni/Men's Forum on Gender
August 03, 2010

The Padare/Enkundleni rural outreach rolled down the inhospitable and inhabitable terrains of Nkayi rural for a full week (27th to 30th July 2010) in partnership with Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) and support from The Big Lottery Fund. This was one of the major success stories of Padare/Enkundleni with respect of rural outreach as the support was so overwhelming that the local leaders requested for more of such programmes in their area. For an area, which in the past did not want to hear of women's empowerment, to get leadership support was a remarkable achievement.

The outreach started off with a two day Traditional Leaders sensitization workshop followed by a community outreach on GBV, child abuse and protection at Simbo Secondary school in the Bhodabhoda area.

Three prominent chiefs, namely Chief Sikobokobo's, Chief Sivalo and woman chief, Chief Dakamela attended the workshop. Five headmen, some government district heads and senior police officers attended the workshop. The District Administrator Nosizo Dube and the Provincial Magistrate His Worship Dube assisted in the facilitation process

Key Highlights

1. A total of 700 people, including Simbo secondary students were reached. The participants called for more sensitization on GBV at grassroots level.

2. Chief Sikobokobo's area is a hot bed of domestic violence and murder cases. Some people in this area have very little respect for human life. At one time it was a no go area for any visitor and law enforcement agents. Through continuous education from NGOs like Padare/Enkundleni, CAMFED, World Vision and MAC, the communities are gradually openly acknowledging the sanctity of life. On its way to Simbo, the outreach team met a middle aged man who had a fresh axe cut on his head following a domestic dispute. The VFU officer on board started the assistance process.

3. As previously reported, the local community was resistant to women leadership in schools, clinics and other local institutions. This community even advocated for the removal of a local school head Mrs. Nyoni. This was amicably resolved by intervention of two chiefs, Padare/Enkundleni, CAMFED and Mrs. Moyo of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development.

4. It is important for other NGOs to join hands with Padare/Enkundleni and CAMFED and spread out the Gender message to the entire district.

5. Chief Sivalo (aged 93 and installed chief in 1940) is an invaluable person to work with as he has a wealthy of knowledge that can to be tapped for the benefit of generations to come.

7. The Padare/Enkundleni's initiative of working with men, boys and young men in Nkayi district, is contributing immensely to relationships with women and children through the awareness campaigns. It should also be noted that resistance to women empowerment is gradually fading.

Mean while the Padare/Enkundleni and CAMFED outreach team is proceeding to Manicaland Province in Buhera District on another community outreach mission. The team will be working closely with Chief Murambinda in trying to get access to some of the Apostolic Faith sects with some members allegedly perpetuating various forms of abuse such as forced early marriages of young girls through taking subversive interpretations of the Bible. The team will be in this District from the 2nd to the 7th of August 2010.

Visit the Padare fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP