Latwell Nyangu
Vulnerable girls in Seke rural area had a rare treat during the commemorations of the International Day of the Girl Child after they were handed sanitary wear and other gifts.
The day was celebrated in style at Besa grounds, Seke village in Chitungwiza where Teen Rescue Mission (TRM) supported by Child Survival & Development Foundation and Sisonke ZW Family Trust hosted the PadMe Programme which was meant to assist young girls with sanitary wear.
This year’s International Day of the Girl Child commemorations were running under the theme “Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being”.
The event targeted and benefited young girls in Seke rural areas and has also seen other events such as donations of sporting indispensables to seven local schools running concurrently.
TRM Director Abraham Matuka said the gesture was meant to lessen the burden of young girls in these communities.
He said reports are that there were reports that due to a lack of sanitary wear, some girls have been resorting to unhygienic sanitary wear which could pose a threat to their health.
“We had young girls coming to our offices last year when we conducted free counselling sessions and indicated that they had to engage into sex with old and married man in exchange of money to buy sanitary pads.
“It was so painful as they narrated their stories and getting to understand that this is a natural thing that all girls have to go for their menstruation period.
“It was so sad these young girls had to opt for that way. As TRM we are working on ways on making sure we also try to have reusable pads so the young girls can continue using them when they are in need.”
Matuka applauded the organisations for coming up in joining hands over the predicament with the rural girls.
Sheba Gurure from Child Survival called for the need to join hands in saving the girl child.
“The girl child has become vulnerable in our societies and we are seeing young pregnancies and young girls being drawn into marriage.
“A child can’t be a mother, so we stand to support what TRM is doing so that we stand to have a generation which is not tampered with.”
While, Sipho Mpofu from Sisonke ZW also put across the message on having the girl child protected. “We don’t need to kill our future by forcing young girls to get into marriage. We need to let them grow and be mothers.”
TRM spokesperson Major Chirombe also praised the event.
“By having these kind of events such as the PadMe programme, we actively contribute to the betterment of the girl child and make sure that she is comfortable all the times.
“We are happy that we managed to raise some soccer balls to support local schools in their sporting activities.
“The event was attended by seven community schools and it garnered immense appreciation from young girls who acknowledged the programme’s commitment to empowering the girl child.
“This initiative is particularly crucial in light of prevalent issues of early marriages and sexual abuse that our society is currently grappling with.”
Teen Rescue Mission has become a dedicated organization that does not only fights against drug and substance abuse but goes further to address challenges such as early marriages and crime among teenagers and youths.