Youth volunteers from North West Ipswich are organising a charity event on the 24^th of March 2012 at Whitton Football Club, Ipswich to raise funds for the Positive Youth Programmes’ projects in Africa. The family orientated event will include activities for everyone, from jumping castles for the kids to music and cash bar for adults among other proposed activities. Meat and salads will be on sale at the event. There is plenty of parking space and the venue is easily accessible from the A12/A14 motorways. All proceeds from the event will go towards supporting the PYP Education Initiative in Zimbabwe which provides school fees to children from disadvantaged backgrounds who could not otherwise afford.

His life must be so tough (or so we thought), spending all his time in these haggard looking fields whilst baby-sitting his sister in the scorching African heat of the savanna plains when he is just but a child himself, requiring a babysitter even. Much to our surprise, Lil’ Jon took it all in little his stride as if this was second nature to him. He did what was asked of him so meticulously that his mum & dad did not even bat their eyelids but just got on with what needed to be done. We would never condone the use of child labour in whatever shape or form, and we felt so much for Lil’ Jon who should have been running around the plains with his mates chasing a plastic football & picking wild fruits. Jon however went about his activities with the most infectious smile we had ever seen. It seemed he never saw what he was doing as ‘work’, rather it was part of his play schedule that he looked forward to be doing everyday. There is a warm feeling that comes with the realisation that someone you genuinely feel sorry for, does not, by any token, feel that way for themselves. Lil’ Jon seemed surprised that we were so concerned about his welfare, all he seemed to wish for at this moment was that we join him and baby sister for the games he was teaching her.

As he liked to play football with his friends after the fields, we kindly gave him a football kit so he would look presentable the next time he went for a kick-about with the boys. What followed is something that we will cherish for as long as we live. It is sights like this that bolster your resolve to soldier on with this heart wrenching chosen career path and lifestyle. Lil’ Jon, with reckless abandon, went on a wild run across the vast fields waving his arms in the air like a bird with the biggest grin ever, plastered on his dusty little face, seemingly without the slightest care in the world.

From this experience, we came to the conclusion that if there existed a scientific tool to measure happiness, this genuinely jovial free spirit would, no-doubt, be found to be much happier than those spoilt, Playstation addicted, gadget totting, TV obsessed but still grumpy sprogs we have become accustomed to, the world over. Our visit to the slowly and agonisingly recovering Southern African nation had been fraught with sad stories and heart wrenching tales of lost hope and failed opportunities but here was one oasis of unadulterated joy who leaves you putting all your moaning and grumpiness into perspective. Lil’ Jon’s beaming smile will forever be etched in our souls.

The group of ladies have since decided to continue fundraising for young people in need of help for school fees and are working at officially launching The Pahushamwari Trust Fund to support young people need. A committee is in the process of being set up in order to manage and fund raise for this fund and further information will be published in due course.  This fund will be supporting the already existing PYP Child Sponsorship Fund and PYP feels very privileged and honoured to be have its work supported by such an inspirational group of women and we look forward to touching a lot more children through this fund.

In the spirit of accountability and transparency all the records pertaining to the fund are available on request. PYP will be publishing all funds received from individual well wishers on our fundraising page @ Pahushamwari Fund.

Please note these are records of funds paid directly into our account. PYP also receives donations via Text Giving and its myCharity giving page.  All funds raised are verified and paid directly into school accounts in Zimbabwe.

The economic challenges that have ravaged Zimbabwe in the last few years have mostly affected the young people in that the education system has been decimated; employment opportunities fell close to nil (95% of all employable people were without jobs in 2009). Even as the economy starts to show early signs of recovery, prospective employers continue to shun the young due to their lack of experience. This has left many youths with no choice but to seek employment opportunities in neighbouring and other countries, where some of them have been abused and taken advantage of by unscrupulous employers. It is therefore understandable when calls keep growing for those in charge to create an enabling environment for these youths to benefit from various Government initiatives aimed at easing the economic challenges bedevilling them.

It is very laudable that the Government has responded positively by setting up a youth development loan facility provided by Old Mutual and administered by the Central African Building Society. The facility was negotiated through the Ministry of Youth Development and Employment Creation, and no collateral is required for youths to access the loan facility. Central Government says this is just but the first of many similar initiatives aimed at empowering young people.

It is very important that these initiatives are followed through to ensure that the intended beneficiaries are indeed deriving the envisioned value therefrom. One of the immediate challenges arising is the lack of capacity by the young people to access and fully utilise such facilities so as to attain maximum benefit. Some of the requirements for accessing these loans including having a registered business and submitting a comprehensive business plan to the bank for consideration before a loan can be released.

PYP Initiative

In line with the Positive Youth Programmes’ motto to Inspire to Empower, the organisation has embarked on an initiative to bridge the gap that exists between the funding requirements and the recipients’ capabilities. During the week following Christmas, Ms Shirley Michael, the PYP Founder and Principal Youth Office presented a Business Planning Training workshop for young people in the city of Gweru. From information obtained on the ground, the uptake of the available loans has been very slow in smaller towns including Gweru, mainly due to lack of information amongst the intended beneficiaries. Topics covered in the course included operations, marketing and financial planning. Participants where shown how to use a business plan not just as a tool for obtaining funding from banks and investors but as the backbone for identifying the markets one intends to operate in, the products or services one intends to offer the identified markets, the ideal production capacity to ensure profitability, the staffing levels required, stock and supplier identification and what financial records to keep to ensure a healthy business. The aim of the whole exercise was to capacitate the young people not only to enable them to take advantage of existing and future opportunities, encourage good practice and innovation, but also to interact with them and share experiences. The youths came from different walks of life but all with the common aim of one day starting a viable business venture.

The venue for the course, at the Gweru Memorial Library was provided courtesy of Mr Bevan Hungwe of Education USA. Addressing the attendants, Mr Hungwe said the youth in Gweru should fully utilize the recently set up American Center, which had the potential to become a vital information hub in the Midlands region. Some of the services provided by the center include:

• Free educational advising services
• Computer and internet use
• Higher education fairs
• Advice on other youth opportunities.

Feedback

The groups expressed gratitude to PYP for giving them the platform from which they could exploit the numerous opportunities that are emerging as the economy continues to recover. There however appears to be a commonly held notion that such opportunities are only reserved for those from the capital city and as such each time a prospect arises no-one bothers to even enquire about it. The issue of centralisation of services in Harare such as obtaining relevant legal documentation was highlighted as one of the stumbling blocks for these emerging entrepreneurs as they had to travel countless time to the capital yet there are fully operational government offices in the Midlands capital. PYP will continue to lobby the authorities on the concerns raised by young people in Midlands.

Whilst the Positive Youth Programmes cannot guarantee that participation on the course will result in the awarding of loans and grants, the training and empowerment project endevours to assist with:

• Business skills training
• Business planning support
• Advice on where to access start-up loan funding
• Ongoing support from volunteer business mentors
• Advice on where to access specialist support, including legal and environmental advice

The Zimbabwe Youth Council in conjunction with the  Ministry of Youth Development and Employment Creation is also putting together some programmes to provide information pertaining to any available opportunities for the youth.

Lower Gweru

Speaking at a well organised event at Chief Mkoba’s homestead in Lower Gweru, where PYP donated sanitary wear and knickers to women and girls, Ms Michael told hundreds of villagers gathered there that in spite of her work as a youth and charity worker, she always retained a soft spot area and in keeping with the famous saying that charity begins at home, she felt the need to give something to the community that nurtured her. She challenged all the adult recipients assembled to work with the Positive Youth Programmes in their effort to cultivate responsibility in young people through engaging in activities that help those less privileged than themselves.

Addressing the same gathering, Jacqueline, a young lady aged 19, stirred people’s emotions when she narrated the ordeal that she and her friends endured during their monthly periods. She gave a distressing testimony of how they run serious health risks by using and re-using rags and newspapers as normal sanitary pads and tampons were well beyond their parents’ reach. Jacqueline also told of the several days of school missed each month as a result. She also expressed sincere appreciation of behalf of those present and highlighted how the work of organisations was changing their lives for the better and hoped that such support will forever continue.

Ms Michael also spoke at length about PYP’s vision of establishing sustainable income generating projects including manufacturing re-usable sanitary products and school uniforms. The projects will be run exclusively by members of the community not only to benefit them through employment creation but supplying them with affordable products.  Several community leaders including health workers took turns to express their gratitude at the work that PYP was doing to alleviate some of the negative effects resulting from the HIV/Aids pandemic and the economic turmoil obtaining in the country as a whole.

HIV as a pathfinder and investment opportunity. A wider recognition that the HIV response has been a pathfinder must confront and replace the myth that the HIV response undermines progress on other global priorities. Getting to zero requires a global response that sees power in solidarity and rejects the trap of destructive competition for finite resources. As such, it is imperative that investment in the response through long-term and sustainable financing continues to be made and to be scaled up.

Priority-setting, alignment and harmonization. The present economic and development climate makes it absolutely essential that resources be put to optimal use. This demands far greater efforts to focus resources where they deliver the greatest returns through more disciplined approaches to priority-setting and resource allocation. Fragmented and externally inspired solutions to local epidemics continue to hold back progress. Development partners must improve their adherence to  internationally agreed frameworks for alignment to country-determined priorities and harmonization of procedures that are fundamental to country ownership, mutual accountability and improved use of resources.

Access to affordable medicines and commodities. Gaps in access to HIV treatment within and between countries are an affront to humanity that can and must be closed by ensuring access to affordable medicines and commodities for all. These gaps, driven by grievous social inequity, can only be filled through relentless political pressure and novel approaches to developing, pricing and delivering treatments for HIV, TB, malaria and other health issues.

Strengthening systems. Although 30 years have passed since communities began leading and demanding HIV responses, national programmes and global partners are just beginning to actively support, deepen and strengthen community engagement. We must insist on and institutionalize the principles and practices of strengthening community systems in the global HIV response and resist short-sighted notions that doing this is too costly, too complicated or too indirect. On the contrary—the HIV response requires smarter and more sustained multisectoral support for the community systems that shape people’s lives and complement human resources for health. A harmonized approach to strengthening HIV responses and community and health systems is essential.

Social justice. Stigma and discrimination, homophobia, gender inequality, violence against women and girls and other HIV-related abuses of human rights remain widespread. These injustices discourage people from seeking the information and services that will protect them from HIV infection, from adopting safe behaviour and from accessing HIV treatment and care. Where HIV-related stigma, discrimination, inequality and violence persist, the global response will forever fall short of the transformations required to reach our shared vision.

UNAIDS

This years theme is “Together for a better world for all: Including persons with disabilities in development” there is still a lot to be done to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. More awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. PYP it starts with you!!

Global commitments

• Achieve universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support
• Halt and reverse the spread of HIV and contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals

Vision and goals

Revolutionise HIV prevention

More than 7000 people are newly infected with HIV every day. A revolution in prevention politics, policies and practices is critically needed. This can be achieved by fostering political incentives for commitment and catalysing transformative social movements regarding sexuality, drug use and HIV education for all, led by people living with HIV and affected communities, women and young people. It is also critical to target epidemic hot spots, particularly in megacities, and to ensure equitable access to high-quality, cost-effective HIV prevention programmes that include rapid adoption of scientific breakthroughs.

Vision: To get to Zero New Infections

Goals for 2015:

• Sexual transmission of HIV reduced by half, including among young people, men who have sex with men and transmission in the context of sex work
• Vertical transmission of HIV eliminated and AIDS-related maternal mortality reduced by half
• All new HIV infections prevented among people who use drugs

Catalyse the next phase of treatment, care and support

A total of 1.8 million people died from AIDS-related causes in 2009. Access to treatment for all who need it can come about through simpler, more affordable and more effective drug regimens and delivery systems. Greater links between antiretroviral therapy services and primary health, maternal and child health, TB and sexual and reproductive health services will further reduce costs and contribute to greater efficiencies. Enhanced capacity for rapid registration will increase access to medicines, as will countries’ abilities to make use of TRIPS flexibilities. Nutritional support and social protection services must be strengthened for people living with and affected by HIV, including orphans and vulnerable children, through the use of social and cash transfers and the expansion of social insurance schemes.

Vision: To get to Zero AIDS-related Deaths

Goals for 2015:

• Universal access to antiretroviral therapy for people living with HIV who are eligible for treatment
• TB deaths among people living with HIV reduced by half
• People living with HIV and households affected by HIV are addressed in all national social protection strategies and have access to essential care and support

Advance human rights and gender equality for the HIV response

Social and legal environments that fail to protect against stigma and discrimination or to facilitate access to HIV programmes continue to block universal access. Countries must make greater efforts: to realize and protect HIV-related human rights, including the rights of women and girls; to implement protective legal environments for people living with HIV and populations at higher risk of HIV infection; and to ensure HIV coverage for the most underserved and vulnerable communities. People living with and at higher risk of HIV should know their HIV-related rights and be supported to mobilize around them. Much greater investment should be made to address the intersections between HIV vulnerability, gender inequality and violence against women and girls.

Vision: To get to Zero Discrimination

Goals for 2015:

• Countries with punitive laws and practices around HIV transmission, sex work, drug use or homosexuality that block effective responses reduced by half
• HIV-related restrictions on entry, stay and residence eliminated in half of the countries that have such restrictions
• HIV-specific needs of women and girls are addressed in at least half of all national HIV responses
• Zero tolerance for gender-based violence

UNAIDS

However, reading through some of the comments following the article, one cannot help but be overwhelmingly dejected by the lack of knowledge on this subject by so many members of society. In addition to assisting these women, it is imperative that awareness be brought to the general populace about this debilitating scourge afflicting so many young girls in deafening silence. Some people seem to be of the opinion that it is shameful to highlight this problem to the world. Whether this is due to the fact that they are oblivious to the existence of such issues in the very society that they live or that they would prefer such ‘dirty linen’ was never washed in public, the fact remains that problems do not go away by sweeping them under the carpet.

During my awareness campaigns, I have had the misfortune of encountering a few of these individuals, and I should admit I have never seen or heard such scorn and vitriol poured upon a human being as was done on me then. One evidently very privileged woman made clear to me her utter disdain at the ‘shame’ that I was bringing to the Zimbabwean womenfolk by daring to suggest that there are some out there who go without such basic things as sanitary wear. She made it known that I needed to be ashamed of myself for dragging the image of the whole country into disrepute through my despicable actions of ‘washing our dirty linen in public’. According to her, such issues do not truly exist anywhere but that it is just a ploy by those of us that seek limelight on the world stage. A young man even went to the extent of threatening physical harm on a social forum when he mistakenly assumed that I was a ‘foreigner trying to derive mileage for my charity through denigrating the image of young girls in Zimbabwe’. If I had not come to this calling through personal experiences, I would have long abandoned it, but the hundreds of appeals we receive every month is clear evidence that a problem exists in our society, however negatively that might affect our egos. If I had not had personal encounters with young girls using dirty rugs and newspapers as sanitary ware, maybe these detractors would have a had a chance of diverting my attention from this cause. But what I have seen is enough to send anyone with a heart and a conscience into immediate action.

PYP receives a lot of support from various organisations the world over and one woman from a major supporting organisation in Scotland received so much disparagement and ridicule that she decided to channel her efforts elsewhere, where they are appreciated. She is now doing wonders helping young women in Kenya, she has even received awards for her efforts. The saddest thing is that the vilification all came from fortunate Zimbabweans who choose to bury their heads in the sand and imagine that ‘such a thing does not exist in our society’. Why anyone would make it their preoccupation to slander those who dedicate their lives to good causes, is a question whose answer only they and their conscience can provide.

The solution lies in bringing this unbearable problem to the fore, creating awareness amongst those who can assist and suggesting possible solutions. That some of us are so ashamed of it, is clear evidence that no-one deserves to be in such a situation in this day and age. Rather than attack those that are trying to help, men and women, we should be out there with them demanding the society that we want and deserve.

Young women present petition on sanitary wear
By Mary Kashumba Herald Reporter
A GROUP of young women last week converged at Parliament Building to present heir petition to the Budget committee demanding subsidised sanitary wear.
Finance Minister Tendai Biti is expected to present the 2012 National Budget tomorrow. Sanitary towel prices range from US$1 to US$5 for a month’s supply, which is relatively high for young women who constitute the bulk of unemployed youths.
They are asking for an average price of US$1 for four months’ supply. The women also demanded that sanitary wear be distributed for free in marginalised communities and educational institutions.
The petition was presented to the budget executive committee member, Ms Dorcas Sibanda, to consider their demands in the next budget.
“All colleges that have introduced medical aid systems should ensure that young women are able to purchase sanitary wear using their medical aid or health fee contributions.
“Young women continue to succumb to cervical cancer due the alternatives they use such as rags, newspapers, cow dung and tissues.
“Reproductive tract infections have increased in young women and their reproductive health is being compromised,” the petition read. Bulawayo Central House of Assembly Member Ms Dorcas Sibanda said the petition was targeted at female representatives in the House of Assembly to lobby in the upcoming budget for responsible ministries to consider the demands.
“There is need for Parliament, retailers and manufactures to put heads together to ensure affordable sanitary wear for our young women. “Collective efforts by different players is vital and it’s high time we do a serious self-introspection on whether we consider sanitary wear in our budgets at all levels,” she said.
Ms Sibanda said as policymakers they should appreciate the move by young women to speak out, co-ordinate themselves, march and gather to draw actions that will see Zimbabwe prioritising their dignity.
The march was a call to action on all stakeholders to deliver the delayed dignity. The campaign offers opportunities for young people to advocate sanitary wear and other sexual and reproductive health rights.