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Z$8.26bn community based child rights program launched
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
July 13, 2006

Canada’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Ms. Roxanne Dubé, today launched the second phase of a child rights project in the Mashonaland East province’s Murehwa district. The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), through its Rights, Democracy and Governance (RDG) fund provided Z$8.26 billion for the initiative.

The project is implemented by the Human Rights Trust of Southern Africa (SAHRIT) and covers the district’s wards 11, 12, 14 and 16. It promotes human rights for children, it designs and implements economic programs to empower vulnerable children, and it ensures their access to education.

As part of this initiative, SAHRIT built an inclusive centre, with participation from villages, wards and child protection committees to monitor the situation of children and register those in need of immediate assistance. The concept of study circles was introduced to facilitate informal discussions on violations of human rights and possible solutions. Communities, including leaders at various levels, were trained on human rights and child rights, child abuse with a specific focus on child sexual abuse and on how to enumerate and monitor orphans and other children in difficult circumstances.

"The Government of Canada commends SAHRIT for its long-term commitment to equal rights for all. The child-centered, rights-based program implemented in Murehwa has transformed the lives of hundreds of children. I think this is an inspiring model for other parts of the country where a growing number of children continue to face growing challenges with HIV-AIDs, access to education and economic development, " Dubé said.

In Murehwa, SAHRIT introduced the ‘Zunde RaMambo’ (communal field) and mushroom production. This was complemented by other projects such as training in herbal farming to provide local support to people living with HIV/AIDS in the targeted communities. The concept improves livelihoods by enhancing food security and providing a form of economic empowerment, while serving as an access point to train communities on the protection of children’s rights.

Ms. Dubé was able to measure the direct, tangible benefits to the community. For instance, SAHRIT used part of the funds from the first phase of the project to help pay school fees for either orphaned or child headed households. A total of 744 primary and secondary school children in 2003 and 984 in 2004 benefited from the project, while for the first time villagers contributed towards school fees from the sale of products from the Zunde.

Research by SAHRIT in 2002 to determine the extent to which households have continued to be affected by HIV/AIDS and other rights based problems indicated an ever-increasing number of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS, child headed households, young widows and parents living with HIV/AIDS. For example, in Ward 11 (the hardest hit by HIV/AIDS in the district) 1,250 children had been orphaned. Within the same ward, there were 123 child headed households and 177 school dropouts. Three hundred and sixty four (364) children did not have birth certificates and were prevented from taking formal exams and graduating from primary school, further complicating their productive development and ability to contribute to society.

As Zimbabwe’s welfare system struggles to cope with pressure that has resulted from economic challenges and the HIV/AIDS pandemic, children have become increasingly vulnerable. The consequences have been an increase in children who resort to begging on the streets, child sexual abuse and children who are forced to drop out of school and earn a living for themselves and their siblings. "This calls for new strategies that incorporate traditional coping mechanisms while protecting the rights of the most vulnerable members of society," Dubé said.

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