One of every six people in the world is an adolescent girl, or about 16 % of the world’s population. Global research has shown that empowerment of girls can to lead to the following outcomes which exert a broader and far-reaching impact on society.
• Girls and young women have the potential to play crucial roles in their countries, communities, and families.
• Economic growth can occur with a
more competitive labor force and lower dependency ratios.
• Improving the condition of girls and women fosters an involved citizenry and stronger governance.
• Better health and education for girls today lead to a healthier, better educated next generation. (Center for Global Development, 2008)
Efforts to improve the status of adult women have proven very difficult because it is extremely hard to facilitate the means for empowerment at an older age. However, girls are neither just women nor just children, and therefore to confront issues affecting girls requires a unique set of tools that can be applied specifically to them. The Imbali Foundation aims to provide and instill within young women the means for elevating their social status. Education, Knowledge and Leadership skills. These tools provide young women with the motivation and social savvy to confront the system of patriarchy, which has perpetuated violence against women for years. By giving young girls a voice and a space, the Imbali Foundation provides them with the necessary strategies to be aware of and claim their rights and thus participate in the process of national development. The Problems in brief
The Swaziland Action Group against Abuse and other civil society organizations have expressed the concern that strategies to combat HIV must reflect the gendered nature of HIV in order to develop tools to empower the female population to fight the high HIV infection rate. Immerging statistical information about HIV prevalence rate in Swaziland supports the personal experiences of Swazi women and children. The HIV rate country-wide is 26%, and the rate for those between 15 - 24 years old is 14.4%. A further breakdown of that age category shows:
•5.9% of males between the ages of 15 - 24 are HIV positive;
•22.9% of females between the ages of 15 - 24 are HIV positive;
•31.8% of the pregnant females between the ages of 15 – 24 are HIV positive. These figures indicate that female youth face a much higher risk of contracting HIV than their
male counterparts. The government’s National Multi-Sectoral Strategic Framework for HIV and AIDS, 2009-2014, considers reasons for the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Swaziland and outlines the plan for reducing the HIV prevalence rate. The document indicates that one of the factors contributing to the HIV epidemic is the prevalence of ‘consumption s*x’, a practice fuelled by income inequality and synonymous with increased risky s*xual partners.6
In Swaziland, adolescent fertility rate is high at 82.3 reported births per 1,000 women aged 15–19 years. Adolescent fertility adversely affects not only young women’s health, education and employment prospects but also that of their children. Births to women aged 15–19 years old have the highest risk of infant and child mortality as well as a higher risk of morbidity and mortality for the young mother.
2 out of three new infections are woman and of those 70% are under 20 years old. Statistics say that 13 cases of violence against women and girls are reported each week in a country of 1.2 million people. Swaziland is generally becoming a more violent society and that previously cases of abuse and violence were under-reported. Another major stumbling-block is that the law in Swaziland has not caught up to international standards in terms of defining abuse and also criminalizing some acts of violence. According too Hlobisile Dlamini-Shongwe of SWAGGA
In Swaziland, 1 in 3 girls has experienced s*xual violence by age 18. 22% of Swazi women between ages of 15 and 24 are HIV positive - a common mode of transmission could be s*xual violence. Sexual violence is defined as forced s*x, coerced s*x, and forced touching. 75% of the boys and men who perpetrated the s*xual violence were related or known to the girls.
10% of the Households in Swaziland are child led households where both parents are deceased, of these the vast majority is led by the eldest Girl child. Eight common Problems that prevent Girls from Progressing:
Low educational attainment
lack of economic assets
heavy workload
la ck of voice
early marriage
high incidence of gender-based violence
Poor health and limited access to health services
Poor nutrition
All leading to a sense of hopelessness and feeling of despair, which tend to lead the youngster astray? Steps to empowerment
To combat this Imbali foundation will initiate a four times three step plan towards empowerment. Each step will be explained in context. Find her,
Meet her gatekeepers
Recruit her - holding Vuselas in the regions
Give her space,
Give her an identity. She understands her body, - holding workshops (Chakaza Imbali) for Girls leaders
She has five friends,
She has an older mentor. Her hero is a girl. - forming Girls Clubs (Imbali Egumeni) around the country
She stays in school. She stands up for herself. The power of economics multiplies. The Results
Five areas of engagement
In all the areas of engagement the Imbali Foundation will build a stronger foundation on the faith, making the child aware that it is a gift of God no matter in what circumstances it is. Thus allowing the child to develop her faith and her confidence and with it a deeper trust in God and what it all means to the child. Helping her as she follows her path, struggles and combats her challenges confident that there are never easy ways but its easy when seen in the light of Trust, Hope, Faith, Respect and Love. These virtues will be emphasized without making a bias or judgment of any denomination or faith this is integrity and God divine.
1 - Leadership, voice and rights
Creation of Safe Spaces-
Training in Life Skills, Assertiveness and Rights-
Engagement of Girls in Formal Decision Making Processes-
Creation of Peer Support Mechanisms-
2 - Social opportunity
Support of Participation in Clubs-
Education and Sensitization of Stakeholders in Girls’ Lives-
Interventions to Combat Harmful Traditional Practices-
3 - Economic opportunities
Formation of Savings and Internal Lending Communities –
Engagement in Market-led Agro-
Facilitation of Girls’ Access to Land-
Enterprise Formation -
Engagement in Petty Trade-
Formal Registration of Cooperatives-
4 - Education
Provision of Scholarships -
Supply of School Materials –
Establishment of Nonformula Education Centers-
Sponsorship of Occupational Training –
Awarding Students who Excel-
Facilitation of Tutorial Provision –
Access to Libraries-
Sensitization of Communities on the Value of Education-
5 - Health and security
Sanitation and Personal Hygiene Education-
Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS Education-
Provision of Sanitary Napkins-
Construction of Latrines –
Construction of Water Points –
Promotion of Backyard Gardening-
Distribution of Fuel-saving Stoves –
Referral Linkages to Health Facilities-
For girls, by girls
At the core of the Imbali Foundation, is the idea that girls make change in the world when they themselves become decision makers. The project seeks to enable girls to become actively engaged in taking initiative, planning for themselves, and making their own choices. This is done in a cultural context using existing customs and traditions and expanding them to suit modern life, and strengthened with the core values, Trust, Hope, Faith, Respect and Love. These virtues will be emphasized without making a bias or judgment of any denomination or faith creed nationality or social standing. The generation of income sources and the opening of access to ownership for girls themselves are key. This thrust towards ‘For Girls, by Girls’ is reinforced and supported by the mentor-like follow-up of field staff, active engagement on behalf of the girls with local government offices and structures, and ongoing oversight and stewardship from the side of project management. Girls are empowered to develop decision making skills in the form in which they are active, for instance as members and leaders of HIV/AIDS educators , in Girls Clubs, Agricultural groups, Trade groups, Savings and Lending Communities, and in performance groups.
