ERMELO – Over 100 girls from various municipalities in the province were given an opportunity to engage and learn about the prevention of HIV/AIDS, STI’s and unplanned pregnancies.
The campaign is courtesy of the provincial government and coordinated by Jodimix Marketing’s CEO, Gugu Nyarenda and her team. It is facilitated by instructors from the national Zazi office, which will provide training for girls that will thereafter go into their respective home towns to continue the campaign across the 17 local municipalities.
Zazi national facilitators, Belinda Setshogelo and Lerato Nkosi, said the girls tackled social issues head-on and with confidence. “The main objective of this programme is to enhance leadership and for young girls to find their inner strength, then they can engage and penetrate communities,” said Nkosi.
Topics covered and discussed included birth control, women, relationships and sexuality, as
well as being a woman in South Africa today.
Setshogelo continued, “It was heart-warming to see the aspiring, yet successful young girls challenge one another on issues related to religion, cultural practices and exploring issues they are afraid to discuss with their families. In principle, they know their rights, but the environment they are exposed to is not conducive enough for them so there are a bit of mixed emotions.”
During the discussions, it was mentioned by Thandeka Mathibela that being realistic is the only way to know where your strengths lie. The former Miss Mpumalanga finalist urged the girls not to look beyond reality and the challenges that each one faces on a daily basis. Some elaborated on the hardships of growing up in child-headed families and lacking that sense of belonging as a teenager.
Mbali Matsinya shared her ordeal, “Our mother died while I was doing grade 12. It was the most difficult time of our lives because we had to depend on our teachers for moral support. I did not allow my circumstances to interfere with what I had hoped to achieve. I still managed to obtain four distinctions in my final examinations. So that sense of belonging is very important and I’m grateful to my teachers for their support throughout it all,” said the confident 23-year-old.
Sixteen-year-old Buhle Sangweni shared Matsinya’s sentiments, pointing out that the Zazi ambassadors programme has helped to shape her into a young woman with dreams, yet one that is responsible for all her actions, not rushing into sexual activities. “I am fortunate to have been selected to be part of this initiative. I know what I want, who I am and most importantly, I know my strengths,
I have the right to say no,” she added.
Also read: Bravo to Zazi campaign
Official Zazi ambassador and Miss Mpumalanga 2016, Elaine Mkhabela, said, “I have come a long way and staying true to myself has made me the person I am today. There were times I wanted to give up, but knowing what I want and trying not to be something I’m not, helped me a great deal. All the girls are going to make great ambassadors – they are all expressive and
well informed.”
Also read : Zazi tackles girls issues head on
Nyarenda concluded, “In order to win this war, all it needs is for the girls to be honest about themselves and let it out.
“Then we’ll head in the right direction; emancipating young girls from a life of misery, sickness and eventual death. There is no stopping these girls as they move out to their communities and change others’ lives.”
Also read: New queen to be Zazi ambassador
