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By Bindura Bureau
Very few are families that support the girl child to continue with her education after being impregnated at school going age. Usually, it would be the end of her education journey.
Exacerbated by the current economic situation, this trend is now very common in Zimbabwe and the girl child has been left vulnerable. Many have traditional beliefs that educating girls is like investing on behalf of someone else-due to the misconstrued belief that the girl child will leave her paternal family to join another family when married, hence a lost investment.
This is probably why the average number of literate men is higher than that of women in Zimbabwe.
However, thanks to a number of non-state-funded organisations across the country, the “rejected” girl child now has an olive branch to proceed with education after such a setback.
Rita Tiribhoyi is one of the proprietors of an organisation that has taken itself to support and empower the girl child with a second chance.
She is the brains behind the establishment of Re-Inspiration for the Girl Child Empowerment (RIGE), a local NGO focused on the empowerment of the girl child and young women.
Her organisation has opened doors to all girls who dropped out of school after being impregnated. A hand is also extended to those affected by various other reasons.
Speaking to Nhau/Indaba last Friday Tiribhoyi said when the girl child is educated, the whole nation benefits after her organisation partnered ROOTS, another local NGO in hosting an innovation symposium for girls and young mothers at Masembura Seconday School.
This was part of the International Day of the Girl Child commemorations.
She went on to offer Ruvarashe Madhuyu (22), who got married while in Grade 7, a scholarship to study for a technical course of her choice at any of the two vocational training centres in Mashonaland Central (Chaminuka in Shamva and Ponesai Vanhu in Mt Darwin) next year.
Madhuyu got married in 2018 although she had already reached the age of 18 after a delayed educational career due to her family’s financial constraints.
“I delayed going to school because my parents could not afford the fees when l reached seven years to enroll for my Grade One (1). I then later started Grade 1 when l reached 12 years.
“At 18 years whilst in Grade 7 l then got married. I am currently staying with my husband and our son.”
The ecstatic Madhuyu who lives with her husband and son thanked RIGE for the opportunity, which was part of her dreams.
“I always wished to continue with my education. Thank you RIGE for your intervention,” she said.
Before being offered the scholarship, Madhuyu told Nhau/Indaba she prayed that one day someone would come and offer her an academic scholarship and alas, her prayers were answered.
“What l really wanted was to continue to secondary education and university.
I always wanted to be a lawyer so that l would represent young girls being forced into marriages and being impregnated for free,” she said. Nhau/Indaba
