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