It is with appreciation that I present this reflection on FAWEZI’s work during the fourth quarter of 2025. This period marked a critical phase of impact, as we translated policy commitments and programme designs into tangible outcomes for girls, adolescents, and youth across Zimbabwe.
The quarter was particularly significant as it saw the official rollout and operationalisation of the UNICEF funded Resilient, Innovative, Skilled, And Empowered Girls (RISE Project), alongside the advancement of the FAWE/Mastercard Foundation Phase II Programme. Our work during this period reaffirmed FAWEZI’s commitment to strengthening protective systems, expanding access to education and skills training, and amplifying community and youth voices in addressing gender inequality and vulnerability.
Launch and Rollout of the RISE Project: Strengthening Protection and Resilience for Adolescents
A defining milestone of this quarter was the launch and rollout of the RISE Project, implemented with support from UNICEF. The project focuses on strengthening child protection systems, adolescent empowerment, and community accountability, with a specific emphasis on safeguarding adolescent girls from violence, harmful social norms, and exclusion from education.
The launch set the foundation for coordinated district-level implementation in Chipinge and Chitungwiza, aligning government departments, community structures, service providers, and adolescents around a shared vision of resilient, innovative, skilled, and empowered girls. Implementation is guided by a layering approach, through which FAWEZI works alongside and provides technical support to line ministries and local authorities including the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE), the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MWACSMED), the Department of Social Development (DSD), the National AIDS Council (NAC), the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training in Zimbabwe, and District Development Committees to integrate education, health, protection, and youth interventions within existing government-led systems and coordination structures at district and community levels. From inception, the RISE Project prioritised participatory approaches that centre community ownership and system strengthening.
District Reflective Community Dialogues: Building Collective Accountability
Following the launch, FAWEZI convened District Reflective Community Dialogues in Chipinge and Chitungwiza. These dialogues brought together key government departments, traditional and community leaders, service providers, adolescents, parents, and education stakeholders to strengthen coordination among education, protection and health stakeholders, examine community-level protection challenges affecting adolescent girls, review local referral pathways and identify gaps, and agree on action points to improve child protection and the safety of learning environments.
In Chipinge, dialogues were conducted in Wards 23 (Muumbe), 25 (Rimai), and 29 (Maparadze), engaging 98 participants (57 Women and 41 Men) in open and participatory discussions. In Chitungwiza,similar dialogues created safe spaces for adolescents and stakeholders to explore community-level concerns including child marriage, teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence, harmful social norms, limited access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) information, and gaps in referral pathways.
These engagements strengthened coordination among duty bearers and reinforced community accountability, ensuring that protection and response systems for adolescent girls are locally driven, responsive, and sustainable.
Capacity Strengthening of Community Child Care Workers (CCWs)
As part of strengthening frontline protection mechanisms and linkages with schools, FAWEZI conducted Trainings for Community Child Care Workers (CCWs) in both Chipinge and Chitungwiza.
In Chipinge, 102 CCWs (83 females and 19 males) were trained.
In Chitungwiza, 99 CCWs (86 females and 13 males) from wards of operation and surrounding areas were capacitated.
The trainings focused on:
Child protection and safeguarding
Linkages to essential social services
Community advocacy
Monitoring, documentation, and reporting
Key government departments, including Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MWACSMED), Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE), Department of Social Development (DSD), Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), National AIDS Council (NAC), and the Zimbabwe Republic Police Victim Friendly Unit (ZRP VFU) and District Development Committees, actively participated, responding to CCWs’ concerns and strengthening inter-sectoral collaboration.
The trainings reinforced CCWs’ role as a critical bridge between households, communities, and formal service providers, enhancing coordinated support for children and adolescents.
Community-Led Campaigns on Girls’ Education
To complement dialogue and capacity-building efforts, FAWEZI led Community-Led Campaigns on Girls’ Education under the RISE Project in: • Chipinge Ward 29 (Mahenye and Maparadze villages) • Chitungwiza Ward 5 (St Mary’s)
Key messages were delivered by representatives from Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MWACSMED), Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE), Department of Social Development (DSD), Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), National AIDS Council (NAC), and the Zimbabwe Republic Police Victim Friendly Unit (ZRP VFU) highlighting barriers affecting girls’ education such as early marriage, safety concerns, SRHR information gaps, and irregular school attendance.
The campaigns were further amplified through Vemuganga Community Radio and ZBC Radio Zimbabwe, extending reach beyond physical gatherings. ZBC Radio Zimbabwe has an estimated national listenership of 4.6 million and an online reach of 377,000, while Vemuganga Community Radio has a potential reach of approximately 300,000 listeners across Checheche, Chibuwe, Chipinge town, and surrounding areas. Approximately 21,000 audiences were reached through the radio program and Facebook engagements garnered an average of 16,000 views and over 300 comments. Through open community dialogues, participants identified practical actions to strengthen local support systems for girls. The campaigns were well received, paving the way for increased community accountability, improved coordination, and stronger advocacy for girls’ rights using community voices.
Youth-Led Digital Advocacy: Keep Them Safe Campaign 2025
During the 16 Days of Activism, FAWEZI actively participated in the Keep Them Safe Campaign 2025, a continental FAWE initiative addressing digital violence against girls. Through FAWEZI’s digital platforms, the organisation amplified campaign messaging via daily social media posts and resource mobilisation content, focusing on awareness, advocacy, and action.
The campaign highlighted the realities of cyberbullying, online harassment, sextortion, and non-consensual sharing of images, while positioning youth and alumni as champions of safe digital spaces. Through consistent online engagement, FAWEZI reinforced the message that girls’ safety online and offline is a shared responsibility, and mobilised stakeholders to pledge action toward protecting girls in digital learning environments. The campaign reached audiences across five FAWEZI social media platforms, generating 432 direct engagements, demonstrating strong resonance and effective digital advocacy on online safety for girls.
Advancing Equitable Access to STEM Skills through TVET Bursaries
Parallel to RISE Project implementation, FAWEZI advanced the FAWE/Mastercard Foundation Phase II Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Bursary Support call, targeting 200 vulnerable young women and men, including refugees and persons with disabilities.
The quarter saw the convening of Provincial Selection Committee, followed by the National Selection Committee, ensuring a transparent, inclusive, and accountable selection process. Over 4,564 applications were received, with 3,689 meeting eligibility criteria after pre-screening and automated scoring using a selection matrix.
Following national-level shortlisting, home visits were conducted across all ten provinces from 15–19 December 2025, with four teams verifying applicants’ socio-economic circumstances. A total of 187 applicants were reached (144 females and 43 males), including 7 applicants with disabilities. The visits revealed extreme multidimensional poverty, food insecurity, psychosocial vulnerability, health challenges, and precarious housing conditions, underscoring the necessity of physical verification and holistic support.
The exercise reaffirmed FAWEZI’s commitment to fairness, accountability, and gender-sensitive targeting, while informing programme enhancements such as psychosocial support, disability accommodations, and linkages to social protection services.
Regional Engagement and Institutional Strengthening
At the regional level, FAWEZI participated in the FAWE/Mastercard Foundation Phase II Annual Review and Planning Meeting held in Dakar, Senegal, alongside FAWE National Chapters. The meeting provided a platform to reflect on progress, share learning, and align priorities for strengthening girls’ access to education and skills across Africa.
The meeting further set the stage for the official launch of the FAWE Senegal and Liberia Strategic Plan (2024–2028), FAWE/Mastercard Foundation Phase II programme marking an important milestone in strengthening national chapter leadership and strategic alignment within the FAWE network.
Internally, FAWEZI continued to strengthen organisational systems, coordination, and accountability mechanisms to ensure effective delivery of expanding programmes and partnerships.
As we conclude the final quarter of 2025, FAWEZI reflects on a period defined by action at scale, strengthened protection systems, transparent processes, and empowered communities. From the launch of the RISE Project to community dialogues, CCW capacity strengthening, digital advocacy, and TVET bursary selection processes, our work continues to demonstrate that sustainable change is achieved when communities, institutions, and young people are mobilised together.
I extend my sincere appreciation to our partners, government counterparts, communities, and young people for their continued trust and collaboration. Together, we remain committed to advancing gender equality, safeguarding girls, and creating pathways for education, skills, and socio-economic transformation.
Menard