Before our beneficiaries join the S.H.E Programme, many of them are vulnerable and insecure in many ways for various reasons. These insecurities turn into barriers that prevent them from being able to attain an education.
Experiencing harmful cultural practices – belief that girls should not be educated, leading to their involvement in intensive child labour activities, early child marriages/pregnancies and exploitation.
Experiencing harmful cultural practices – belief that girls should not be educated, leading to their involvement in intensive child labour activities, early child marriages/pregnancies and exploitation.
In Zimbabwe, 34% of girls are married before the age of 18, and 5% before the age of 15.
In Zambia, 29% of girls are married before the age of 18, and 5% before the age of 15.
Being exposed to various forms of abuse – emotional, physical, sexual and neglect, by family members, relatives, or other older men in their local area.
Being exposed to various forms of abuse – emotional, physical, sexual and neglect, by family members, relatives, or other older men in their local area.
The S.H.E Team providing psychosocial support to our beneficiaries to assess their mental wellness and to detect those who have been abused.
Facing extreme poverty at home – due to financial constraints, families are unable to afford to send children, especially girls, to school as that money is needed for food and ultimately, survival.
To assist with poverty experienced by the families whom we support through the S.H.E Programme, we provide them with food supplies, basic clothing and assist with their sustainable projects, so that they are able to earn a living that will be able to bring them out of poverty.
Being orphaned/living in child-led homes – many girls lose their parents at such a young age and with there being no other relatives to look after them or their siblings, these girls take on the role of parenthood, resulting in them dropping out of school.Â
Having no legal documentation – due to being orphaned mostly, girls do not have the required documentation to be registered at a school or be able to write their public examinations.
Schools being situated very far away from areas of living – long distances are required to travel to school every day, which makes girls vulnerable as they may be abused along the way or they feel extremely tired at school from walking the long distances, preventing them from fully focusing on their education.
Schools being situated very far away from areas of living – long distances are required to travel to school every day, which makes girls vulnerable as they may be abused along the way or they feel extremely tired at school from walking the long distances, preventing them from fully focusing on their education.
We provide bicycles to our beneficiaries who live really far from their schools. If the terrain will not allow the use of bicycles or if the distances are extremely far and unrealistic, we will place those beneficiaries into boarding schools, as a solution.
Our individual tailored, support plans that we provide to all of our beneficiaries, once they join the Programme, are designed to remove all of these insecurities, allowing them to feel secure (our first stage of intentional impact).
