Zion City Foundation makes a mark in Victoria Falls
Ratidzai Matumbura
VICTORIA FALLS – A local non-governmental organisation, Zion City Foundation, has been hailed for its impact in improving the welfare of girls and young women as well as getting them back to school and providing career guidance.
The organisation was founded by threee young people namely, Procedure Mhlanga Chikosi, Nancy Matowe Mtungwazi and Frank Chikosi, who started working with girls in the city in 2015 before registering as an organization in 2018.
Speaking to this publication one of the founders, Procedure, shared the inspiration and drive behind the work that has earned plaudits among residents of the new city.
“We are driven by a strong desire to see young people succeed. We aim to expose young people to possibilities around them and help them to take advantage of the abundant opportunities they may not be aware of,” she said.
According to Procedure, the organization seeks to counter the educational deficiencies of the marginalised province that manifest themselves in form of poor results and a dearth of educational institutions.
“As it stands, Matebeleland North records very poor academic results and there are fewer educational institutions in the area hence the strong desire to see change.We are motivated by seeing the change in the few girls and boys that we are working with .The progress in their lives motivates us to soldier on and try to do more,” said Procedure.
Zion City Foundation has been praised for its resilience in spite of the Covid-19 pandemic that has also compounded the economic situation of young people. It is famed for providing the much needed sanitary wear for girls in Victoria Falls and nearby rural areas such as Monde and Chidobe.
The organisation also provides psychosocial support and life skills along with menstrual hygiene management to young women and sexual abuse victims through an arm of the organisation called the Girls Time Club. This arm of the organization has allegedly reduced absenteeism in schools while also inculcating self esteem and self belief in vulnerable girls. Global Sojourns Giving Circle is the sponsoring partner of the Girls Time Club.
The Girls Time Club is run by Procedure and Mercy Sibanda who help young girls excel academically by availing resources needed for their academic success. The Club has registered a considerable level of success in its work and now boasts of an alumni club of girls who have advanced to tertiary education level. These older girls are ploughing back by assisting in restoring confidence of young girls who are victims of abuse, whose self esteem has been dealt a blow.
Pamela Nyoni, a member of the alumni is grateful to the organization for setting her up for success through the life skills training and mentorship that has changed her life.
“I have benefited a lot from the Girls Time Club. I have been equipped with life skills such as sewing and baking. l have also gained moral support from our mentors, Aunties Procedure and Mercy.They helped me develop into a confident girl who can stand up and speak for herself. I am now a voice of the voiceless and a youth of change.The club also contributed immensely to my academic success.”
Nolwazi Sibanda, a current member of the Girls Time Club revealed that the club improved her english communication skills and helps her in maintaining her mentsrual hygiene. She added that she is privileged to get good career guidance from the Club.
“Our mentors shower us with love and care. They understand us and do not judge us. They contributed to building my self esteem, good english communication skills. Furthermore, they guide us careerwise and help us with sanitary wear as well as school resources so that we can go to school in preparation for our future,” she said.
In future, the NGO hopes to send young mothers for vocation trainings and to establish a boys club to complement the work being done for the girls through the Girls Time Club.
