Empowering a Community Shingirirai Trust, Zimbabwe
Jan 14, 2015
Empowering a CommunityShingirirai Trust, Zimbabwe
Shingirirai: Location
28 km North East of Harare. Shingirirai serves 3 areas: Mabvuku, Tafara & Caledonia
Shingirirai Community: Home Environment
Caledonia: housing in shacks with no sewage, no water, no electricity
Mabvuku/Tafara
Tafara: small 3-room houses, overcrowded, mainly lodgers renting by room Mabvuku: owner-occupiers, larger houses
Shingirirai: History
In 2003 seventeen women met under a tree…
STEP = Shingirirai Trust Empowerment Process
STEP 1: Individuals& TEAMS
STEP 2: Shingirirai
COMMUNITIES
STEP 3: other communities
in ZIMBABWE
STEP 4: other countries
in AFRICA
STEP 5: developing nations
WORLDWIDE
Early Childhood Development (ECD)Program
ECD running in 6 centres with 260 children aged 3-6 years.Learning through play pre-school program: Education Play/Socializing Healthcare Nutrition Outreach to families
It’s all about love and hugs
ECD: EducationTurning Lives Around…
Provides vital socialization skills & prepares children for primary school
7 areas of Learning Through Play:
•Language
•Math
•Science & Discovery
•Music & Movement
•Art & Craft
•Drama
•Manipulative & Block Play
Headstart for life
ECD: Play & Socializing
Children in families affected by HIV/Aids can be isolated & stigmatized.
ECD helps develops a lifelong love of learning...
ECD: Healthcare Children with HIV
15% of ECD Program children are HIV+Via ECD they get monthly health checks & referrals to specialist clinics
ECD: Nutrition
ECD provides 2 good meals per day: without this, many children face malnutrition
ECD: OutreachLove & respect are paramount
Each child is valued as unique and special.ECD staff work with families to teach them how to love and respect children.
Capacity Development(CD) Program2 Components:
In-service training -
Peer education model:
“Each one teach one”
Accessing specialist skills:•Counseling •IT •ECD •etc.
Turning caregivers intocommunity leaders...
CD Program:Peer Education Training
CD program is now focusing on parenting skills....
30 peer educators have already trained 400 caregivers in practical nutrition skills...
Skills Development (SD) Program
3 Target Groups:
•Youth - life & vocational skills
•Women & girls - fabric production
•Caregivers - nutrition, parenting, life skills
SD Program: Youth
In 2004, vulnerable teenage girls & boys recognized as prime target group. After overcoming many obstacles, the life skills program is up and running in 2009.
SD Program: Youth Learning Life Skills
Components:
•HIV prevention skills
•Vocational skills - bicycle repairs, beadmaking, etc.
•Sports skills
•Leadership skills
SD Program: Youth Empowerment
“All my own work”
Beadmaking as income generation is in the early stages of development.
Youth need IT skills - plans for internet cafe run by young people.
SD Program: Women & Girls - Fabric Production
10 women trained in 2007, developing a unique range of colors & designs. Marketed in Germany, Canada & Spain
SD Program: Outreach to Families
Fallout from HIV/AIDS
•High levels of sickness & dependency
•Economic implosion
•Broken & separated families
•Unemployment
Aim of Shingirirai: to build community support structures
Shingirirai Trust:Building Our Vision…
Building community support structures means step-by-step planning & programming
Sharing a vision needs consistent teamwork - Each person has a valuable role to play.
Upskilling is the way forward...
Starburst 1: Leadership & Management Skills
Unleashing potential - just €120 gives one of these women full leadership training for a year... Starburst connects sponsors directly with those they support.
Starburst 2: Developing One-Woman Businesses
Starburst helps women start their own businesses in the community with small loans.
Just €120 will empower Beauty (shown left) and women like her to create an ongoing income for their family.
By achieving self-sufficiency, women are then able to support their children through primary school education and a future...
Shingirirai Trust:Building Our Vision…
Thank-you
You can help now! Become a Shingirirai Supporter - & help empower the women & children of Shingirirai Trust...
www.shingirirai.org