Catalyzing action for vulnerable children
In addition to marginalized girls, CAMFED supports children living with disabilities and boys with tailored packages of support, addressing the barriers that keep them from attending and succeeding in school. The districts where boys are selected for support are those where boys’ educational outcomes are the worst in the country. CAMFED Zimbabwe’s position as Chair of the Gender and Disability Committee under the National Education Coalition enables us to advocate for policies to promote equitable, quality education.
In 2019, Zimbabwe experienced its worst drought in decades, which, in tandem with the impacts of Cyclone Idai and a severe economic crisis that sent food prices spiraling, created the country’s worst acute food insecurity crisis in 10 years. With many families struggling, the risk of school dropout and child marriage remains high.
Zimbabwe has committed to eliminate child, early and forced marriage by 2030 in line with target 5.3 of the Sustainable Development Goals and during its Voluntary National Review at the 2017 High Level Political Forum, the government reaffirmed commitment to this target.
Our young women leaders in the CAMFED Association are at the forefront of tackling child marriage in their communities, working with schools, parents, education authorities, traditional leaders, social workers and the police to catalyze action for vulnerable girls.
