WLSA Zimbabwe joins the world in commemorating the International Day of the Girl Child with this year’s theme: With Her: A skilled GirlForce. As girls prepare to enter the world of work that is being transmuted by innovation and mechanization, this requires a more educated and skilled work force.
Sadly a small percentage of young girls are currently either employed or in education or training. Almost 40 years after the attainment of independence, Zimbabwean women and girls still remain marginalized from economic activities in the country.
According to the 2017 SADC Gender Protocol Barometer, there are very low percentages of women in formal employment, with women having limited access to and control of the country’s productive resources such as land.
Currently in Zimbabwe more men than women are in paid employment while women are largely concentrated in non-remunerated subsistence economic activities and the informal sector, where they work under precarious conditions.
This is despite Section 14 of the Constitution providing for the empowerment and employment creation for all regardless of gender. This requires state and all institutions of government at every level to ensure creation of employment for all, in particular women and youths.
This year’s International Day of the Girl Child, we are working to expand existing learning opportunities for all girls, chart new pathways and call on the global community to rethink how to prepare them for a successful transition into the world of work.
WLSA Zimbabwe working with a consortium of civil society organisations and with funding from European Commission, started a project on Strengthening Civil Society to promote gender equality through participatory advocacy on child rights.
WLSA Zimbabwe is working in six wards in Chiredzi district, deliberately targeting girls in and around Chiredzi Districts for empowerment through support with the formation of the child led groups known as Girl Empowerment Movement Clubs in Schools.
The clubs, which will have a majority of girls will provide a platform for them to share information and skills training. WLSA Zimbabwe together is also supporting five young girls and women from Chiredzi by bringing them together from different spheres to learn and share on their rights.
WLSA will also be conducting legal sessions on child rights and family laws as well as dialogue sessions to encourage communication lines between citizens and policy makers.
There will also be a mobile legal help desk at courts to ensure that justice is served effectively and efficiently for the benefit of the girl child.
For more information please contact:
Communications Desk
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