Assessment for girls in Africa Getting practical help

November to April 2013

Girl Child Network was formed in 1998, Zimbabwe.

GCNW empowers girls in the home, school and community. The model is now replicated in Sierra Leone and Uganda.

Why the girl child?

Zimbabwe has over 1.5 million orphaned children

52% of which are girl children and at risk

10 girls report rape daily in Zimbabwe (only 1 in 4 cases are reported).

A GCN survey found that 93% of all sexual abuse cases involving children in Zimbabwe, were girls.

Girl children are the most vulnerable group.

Getting Involved

Over the last few months I've had the

privilege of working with members of GCNW,

profiling and recording individual cases of

girls needing assistance as they come in.

Sierra Leone

This is H

She was raped by a stranger at the age of 7

She lives with her grandmother, who finds it difficult to pay her school fees.

Hawa is an intelligent young girl who aspires to someday become a bank manager.

Sierra Leone This is Kadiatu Her father died Kadiatu's mother earns very

little so she has to scavenge plastic bottles to supplement her mothers income.

High risk of dropping out of school and possibly being abused.

Uganda This is Carol Her father is not around Carol and her family are

homeless. They sleep in church and eat from dumpsters

High risk of catching diseases and dropping out f school.

Uganda

This is Mary

Father left and her mother is not able to work due to heart problems

Struggling to find ways to fund her education.

High risk of dropping out of school.

Delight, Ever, Vision and Michelle were raped because of a belief that virgins can cure HIV / AIDS

Chipo Raped by a neighbour Dislocated her spine Unable to walk

How Does GCNW assist? Offer support: psychological, medical, educational, social, legal and more

Rehabilitation for girls who are survivors of abuse

Offer education

Teach girls to become leaders and fulfill their potential

Build self-esteem

Remind girls of the power that exists within themselves

Allow access to informational resources and referrals

Offer psychological and medical support

Education

Empowerment

Strengthen confidence

Enhance creativity

Develop empathy

Discuss issues and obstacles they face individually and collectively and devise solutions

Girls Empowerment Villages

Chitsotso Empowerment Village

Mwambe Empowerment Village

Chihota Empowerment Village

We have the power to change our

communities!