Jackie VanDerMeulen

Girl Child Network- Zimbabwe

General Overview

The Girl Child Network (GCN) is a local Zimbabwean NGO which works to uphold the rights of the girl child in all spheres of life; in the home, school and community. GCN seeks to empower girl children to act as their own protectors and agents in Zimbabwe’s struggle out of poverty. GCN has grown dramatically in the past 3 years as international donors have become aware of GCN’s excellent reputation. Their programs are divided into four distinct areas:

Girls at Risk Support Unit – This department comes to the assistance of girls who have been the victims of rape. This meant traveling to their homes, meeting with their families, often bringing them back to our “safehouse”, taking them to the hospitals, escorting them to the police station and court, and providing any other immediate needs that they may have in relation to their traumatic experience (i.e. counseling, food, transportation, etc.). The department is also able to pay for the school fees and uniforms of girls who could not otherwise afford to go to school.

Lobby and Advocacy – Zimbabwe’s legal system is built on strong foundations, however due to the political climate and the pervasiveness of corruption the law is not always applied as it should be. As such the Lobby and Advocacy department has developed close ties with the Ministry of Justice. Where there is suspicion of payoffs or if there is another area of legal concern GCN is able to kick up enough noise and do the research necessary to have significant changes made.

Community Awareness and Support – In recognition that the problem of gender inequality, and sexual assault in particular, is a social rather than an individual phenomenon GCN has developed a significant community presence. Awareness campaigns are conducted through public media (television, radio) and in rural areas through community events. These events typically focus on topical issues, like anti-human trafficking or the education of girls. This department also engages in capacity building activities with other infant organizations in Southern Africa.

Girls Clubs – The girls clubs are organized at more than 500 schools around Zimbabwe and meet on a weekly basis. The aim of the groups is to provide forum for girls to share their experiences and raise awareness about issues that face young female Zimbabweans. They often engage in community service work and will fundraise to help pay school fees for the more disadvantaged girls at their school.

My Role at GCN

I was fortunate to be able to work in all four of the programme areas, though the bulk of my time was spent in the Girls at Risk Support Unit. I was able to develop a database to track the incidence and geographic trends of rape cases and frequently accompanied girls to hospitals and court. Many of the girls are unfamiliar with the legal process, and I was able to walk them through the process. In the Lobby and Advocacy department the majority of my work involved drafting letters and media statements. GCN made sure that I got the most out of my time in Zimbabwe, including allowing me to travel around the country to visit many of the Girls Clubs. Along with a medical student from the University of Toronto, I played outdoor games relating to the prevention of HIV/AIDS transmission and talked to the girls about the prevalence of rape in Zimbabwe.

One of my final task at GCN was to prepare a report on some of the challenges that I saw the organization as facing. Because GCN has grown very quickly it has yet to adopt an efficient system for reporting and management. I was able to make suggestions, which have since been implemented, with respect to the division of responsibilities and general best practices for employee-employer relations.

Challenges

The majority of the challenges that I faced were on a more personal level – i.e. a lack of electricity, lack of petrol, lack of food, etc. It was also very difficult to live in Zimbabwe as a White foreigner. The state-owned media never ceases to blame foreigners for the economic difficulties of Zimbabwe and there is still a great deal of resentment towards White people because of the colonial history. The longer I was in Zimbabwe, the more I feared for my own safety (from political persecution). Because I was in Zimbabwe on a tourist visa I became increasingly wary of being at events where there was a political presence. The director of GCN was in fact arrested two weeks after I left for accompanying two Americans who were making a documentary on the organization. This is an important consideration for any future interns who would be making the trip to Zimbabwe.

Overall Impression

I had a very challenging, but still rewarding experience in Zimbabwe. I was most impressed with the devotion of the Girl Child Network to continually pushing the State and society to recognize the rights of the girl child. It was a fabulous working experience for me and opened my eyes to the ease in which you can change a child’s life for the better. It is precisely organizations like GCN that deserve our support and I was happy to have been a part of that process.