Graduating from secondary school (Zimbabwe’s equivalent to high school) can be difficult for girls for more reasons than you might think. School can sometimes be too far away, there may be a lack of needed services like safe bathrooms or tuition can be too expensive. But through The Graduation Project, Plan is working to increase the livelihood of entire communities through savings and loan groups, income-generating activities and disaster management. When families are thriving, it is easier for girls to continue their education and graduate.
We spoke with our Zimbabwe Country Director, Angela Muriithi, to learn more about the impact of your Gifts of Hope that support The Graduation Project.
Q: When did you join Plan International and what inspired you to do so?
A: I joined Plan in January 2019 and I have to say, I love my job. Plan International is an organization that is aligned with my core values around gender equality and feminist leadership, so the vision of the organization is very close to my heart. From a young age, I have always been a feminist and a gender equality champion. I recall the day when I was about 12 years of age when I made up my mind that I was going to be free, to be financially independent and to achieve my dreams and ambitions. I was fortunate that my parents believed strongly in education — and the rest, as they say, is history. But for many girls here in Zimbabwe and many parts of the world, this is not the case. So, working for Plan makes it possible to support girls much less fortunate than I was to achieve their hopes and dreams — and the first step towards achieving this is by getting an education. I was lucky enough to be able to follow my dreams. I think all girls, and especially those in Africa, should too.
Q: What are some of the biggest barriers to girls completing secondary school?
A: Barriers to girls completing secondary school are wide-ranging, complex and interconnected. Very often powerful gender norms dictate that girls are the ones doing most of the care work in the home. They are asked to fetch the water, take care of their younger siblings and take care of the sick. Due to this, girls may not have the opportunity to attend school — their contributions to the household are valued more than their education.
Poverty is another significant barrier. When families do overcome gender norms and want to send their girls to school, poverty makes it difficult to do so. Almost 40% of Zimbabweans live below the poverty line, so often there’s no family income to pay for school fees. And there’s not enough food or sufficient clean water to keep girls nourished and healthy. We do not have free education in Zimbabwe, and apart from school fees, there are a lot of costs associated with sending girls to school, like uniforms, stationery or menstrual products, which can be too much to bear for a family living in poverty. When families have to choose who to prioritize for school – boys are put first.
And beyond poverty, long distances to school also make things difficult. School can be miles away from a girl’s home, and walking could take hours. They may face violence on the long journey, so many parents opt to keep their girls at home, fearing exposing them to assault. And even while at school, girls may face various forms of violence at the hands of teachers, peers and other people in the school environment, so parents may pull them out.
One in three girls in Zimbabwe marry before they are 18 years of age. In many cases, they are forced to marry because they have fallen pregnant and must marry the man who made them pregnant to preserve their honor and the honor of their families. Poverty makes this an easy decision because the girls’ families sometimes feel a sense of relief that they have one less family member to look after. While the law dictates that pregnant girls and young mothers can go back to school, this rarely happens because of the stigma involved. And often, their husbands do not allow them to finish their education.
Q: When girls and women are able to access resources through village saving and loan groups, how does this change their lives?
A: Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) play a critical role in bringing financial services to women and girls in countries where access to formal financial services is typically very limited. Overall, the promotion of VSLAs has led to an improvement in women’s financial inclusion, household business outcomes and women’s empowerment. Research has shown VSLAs bring about improved family resilience in areas largely affected by drought, which is a chronic problem here in Zimbabwe. Added income helps women diversify into other income-generating projects, and they are able to afford to send their girls to school. This has a tremendous impact on a girl’s life and the community in general. When women have access to money, they tend to prioritize the education of their children. VSLAs are a game-changer for our communities and families.
Q: How does raising pigs, goats or chickens impact girls’ futures?
A: I want to give an example of a project being implemented in the Chiredzi district. The project is trying to bring about community resilience in times of crises, with raising and selling livestock being a key focus. Families are no longer poor, and they have improved their living standards as some now have solar systems, boreholes and biogas from livestock waste, which they are using for cooking and lighting. More importantly, their girls are going to school! By raising livestock, households are able to increase family income and improve their safety nets and food security, which ultimately benefit the girls in the community.
Q: When girls are given the opportunity to provide input into a project, how does it change?
A: Giving the girls the opportunity to input in the project has significant and distinct advantages. We have a saying in Zimbabwe that goes, “Only the wearer of the shoe knows where it pinches.” Girls themselves know the problems they face and are best placed to create sustainable solutions that reflect their priorities, needs and vision. Making the space for girls to provide input into projects therefore enriches them enormously. This process significantly raises self-esteem and increases their agency, which is an important element of gender transformation in communities. Girls are able to amplify their voices and come up with sustainable solutions to issues that affect them. The Graduation Project is an excellent example of this, using Plan’s GirlEngage approach to identify challenges that girls face by inclusively engaging them as partners and program co-designers. In this program, the girls define the success they want to see in the future. They are the experts of their own destiny.
Q: While working with the girls in The Graduation Project, was there a particular moment that made you realize the significance/impact of Plan’s work?
A: Yes! There has been considerable improvement in the girls’ levels of confidence and ability to openly speak about their entitled rights. The girls can now openly express to the project team, parents and teachers about their hopes and aspirations in life. For instance, during the commemoration of the International Day of the Girl in 2020, some of the girls participating openly called upon their community leaders to stand up and put effective ways to eradicate child marriage. And, through the Girls’ Dormitory Advisory Board set up at their school, some of the girls now know how to use a referral pathway to report abuse cases happening in their communities and follow up to see that the cases are addressed accordingly.
Q: If you could share a message with adolescent girls in Zimbabwe and the U.S., what would it be?
A: Never give up! You are strong and powerful, and you can achieve your goals in life if you stay in school, work hard and stay focused. Don’t get distracted. Plan international stands behind you 100% and we will continue to do our best to support the cause of girls like yourself here in Zimbabwe.
Q: What would you say to someone who is considering making a livelihood gift for girls in Zimbabwe?
A: Your gift will make a huge difference to girls in Zimbabwe. Plan is able to use its deep knowledge of the context, its standing in the community, its relationship with various stakeholders and its skill in programming to create lasting, positive impacts on the lives of girls. You’ll be helping them to achieve their dreams, fulfill their ambitions and create the future they desire for themselves — just like I did! Together, we can continue to make this happen for thousands of girls.
