written by Carl Maswoswa
The International Day of the Girl Child, marked every year on 11 October highlights and addresses the needs and challenges that girls face, while promoting their empowerment and human rights. The theme of the International Day of the Girl Child 2021 is Digital Generation, Our Generation, which comes amid the Covid-19 pandemic unprecedented health measures taken by governments to contain the virus. Millions of girls in developing countries were affected including Zimbabwe by the frequent lockdowns, closure of schools and businesses.
Either they dropped out or never enrolled at all due to poverty, pregnancy, the early marriage which disturbed their ecosystem of productivity and continuity of learning. Thus the girl child is always left behind; this year’s theme seeks to reshape the trajectory and narrative in changing the status quo. Girls too can reap the benefits that technology has to offer if educated and equally protected. According to UNAIDS, “one in every three girls or young women have comprehensive knowledge of how to prevent HIV and other social evils because of circumstances it exacerbates their vulnerability making them susceptible to both household and partner violence”
International Day of the girl child is it truism or a fallacy? Are we doing enough as a society or do we just wait for these international commemorations to say a few words after that we go back to our daily routine of doing things? Gender and discrimination stand at the doorway of women’s education and empowerment. Not long ago as a country, we observed a disturbing story of a young girl who died whilst giving birth. Girls living in marginalized communities; are they given opportunities to go to school and pursue their dreams? Girls are not enjoying their fundamental human rights whilst the world might need profound social support to transform women’s rights, the senior women we see in Zimbabwe’s leadership need to place a commitment to girls’ education and gender equity. Whether rural or urban, marginalized or not it will not be a digital revolution without the full inclusion of women.
Praise Foundation, Reach Out Zimbabwe and The Decibel Trust partnered together to address these challenges through their charitable deeds by giving out sanitary pads, food packs, clothes and engaging with women in the streets to empower them. Praise Foundation led by Praise Chibinjana, is an organization that seeks to empower women psychologically, economically, socially, and politically. Whilst Reach Out Foundation cofounded by Dumisani I Hamandishe is to uplift the livelihood of orphans and vulnerable children termed “OVC’s”.
The Decibel Trust was founded by Decibel “The Sensational Urban Groove Chido Singer” led by Albert Chigiya, their mandate is to support the growth of youth in sports, arts, and other facets of life. Praise Foundation has been doing well in terms of raising the flagship of women empowerment and doing charitable drives. At some point, they gave street kids foodstuffs. As Praise Chibinjana would say, more partners are needed to facilitate more programs that will benefit the less privileged and homeless. It reflects what the country of Zimbabwe constantly needs to put emphasis on, those girls who live in the streets. Only by addressing the inequity and exclusion that span geographies and generations can we usher in a digital revolution for all, with all. According to UNICEF, “some 2.2 billion people below the age of 25 still do not have internet access at home.
It is so sad the young women we are looking to as tomorrow’s game-changers are in the streets. At least we have a definite registry of their existence, what of the unaccounted for; living in marginalized areas. The team that reached out to these girls shared the same sentiments and thoughts of how young girls because of their circumstances are resorting to drug addiction in form of glue to escape reality, having multiple sexual partners, and thievery to sustain themselves. “No one deserves to live a life like that”, said Nomazwe Macebo.
It reflects how as a society we have neglected the fundamental rights of the girl child. Is the government doing enough to extract these kids from these dumpsters through various social departments to at least provide basic amenities to them? “I used to wonder how some of them get through the winter season without blankets only to discover some use drugs to the extent that they get high and feel numb to endure the harsh weather”, said Rachael Tigere and Tendai Tasha Kumbanga. As the reader how do you feel?
Yes, every year we theme the International Day of the Girl Child, good in its standing, the international community, different lobby groups, and local governments especially in developing countries need to stretch out their hand daily if we as a society are to progress. There is a digital divide already, boys are likely to use technology more as compared to the girl child due to their vulnerability to early marriages, abuse just but to mention a few. Thus through promoting equality, investing in girls’ empowerment together, eliminating violence religiously are we able to close off the digital divide.
