Project: Rusape Girls Empowerment Village Betty Makoni, Zimbabwe ***************************** Project: Rusape Girls Empowerment Village ***************************** Project: Rusape Girls Empowerment Village - Zimbabwe
Summary The Rusape Girls Empowerment village is a 'safe village' founded in 2001 by its current director, Betty Makoni. Located in Zimbabwe, the village was established in response to a felt need to empower rural girls. The centre serves as an information dissemination centre as well as a service provision and relief centre. Its goal is to give a sense of hope to abused rural girls. Organisers believe that the village's activism can contribute to respect for girls' rights on a broader scale. Main Communication Strategies This project is based on the premise that the "rural girl can reach greater heights if she is brought in close contact with technology." Using technology, the project hopes to address issues related to: *exploitation of rural girls as a source of cheap labor in urban areas, cities, and farming communities *sexual harassment and abuse of rural girls *poverty leading to exploitation *early pregnancies and marriages *cultural practices such as genital mutilation and virginity testing *physical, economic, and emotional violence perpetrated by parents and bullies *psychological torture through forced marriages *hostile school environments where teachers perpetrate sexual violence *victimisation by local leaders and people in influential positions. Specifically, girls are provided with 3 months of training on the use of email and the Internet. The village has a computer lab with a photocopier, email access, and an Internet-connected computer. The girls produce brochures and referral materials there. "They have been motivated and greatly inspired by this development and also the latest information on HIV/AIDS has been very helpful. The girls have started the pen pal programme which has linked them with other girls for information exchange." Other Empowerment Village programmes include: *Confidential crisis intervention, counseling, and resource referrals to girls in high risk situations including abuse, neglect, and homelessness. *Information volunteers at the village find and access essential human services. They assess each girl's situation and needs and try to identify resources that are affordable, accessible, and geographically convenient. "No problem is too small, too big or too shocking for the volunteers." *Provision of prevention, education, advocacy, and support *Women As Role Models Museum of Achievements - provides books and videos on subjects about breaking through in male dominated fields. This is accomplished through listening to women who have made it to the top. Girls can also go read through their profiles and make arrangements to meet with them. *Provision of practical, useful information designed to enable girls to help themselves. *Facilitation of education and outreach by gathering, clarifying, and simplifying information and resources. Development Issues Gender, Technology, Girls, Rights. Key Points The Empowerment Village has been set up to contribute to the development of rural girls by influencing government, NGOs, CSOs, and all stakeholder communities to implement empowerment programmes through information dissemination and networking supported by information sharing to benefit disadvantaged girls. Partners Girl Child Network Trust (GCNT), Firelight Foundation, IDEX, Department of Social Welfare, health institutions, police, and local organisations. For more information, contact: Betty Makoni Director, Rusape Girls Empowerment Village P.O. Box CZA239 Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe Tel.: +263-(0)70-31132/21509, (0)11-753616, (0)11-753611, (0)11-758412 Fax: +263-(0)70-31132 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] More info at http://www.apc.org/english/hafkin/2002/2002_full.shtml?sh_itm=f95f36f571b319 f3b01f094d53c14568 Cross-posted from: The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) via The Communication Initiative Online at: http://www.comminit.com/experiences/pds22004/experiences-515.html Janet Feldman [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
