Spare a thought for the boys as well

There seems to be over emphasis on the protection of the girl child and neglecting the boy child in Zimbabwe. The general understanding is that girls are more vulnerable than boys. There have been cases reported of late of boys being abused sexually, emotionally and mentally. The latest one was that of a schoolboy who was raped by three women on his way home from school. We asked the children what they think and who they think should be protected more

I think boys need more protection at school and outside than most girls because more cases of boys being abused by their female counterparts are on the rise. Boys are suffering for the love of money and a flashy life at school that they are afforded by these big women who give them money in exchange for sex.
Faith Mudzingaidzwa, 18,
Phoenix College
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I would to take the girls’ side on this matter because in our days boys have grown the tendency of indulging in sexual activities with minor girls. This should be noted because more girls are being victimised each day.
Farai Marira, 15,
Eaglesvale Senior
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In my opinion girls are more vulnerable than boys because they are too emotional and cannot stand pressure from school or outside attacks by rapists. They need to be protected from students and male teachers by creating girl child groups that focus on promoting their freedom at school and outside school.
Gamuchirai Kanhongo, 16,
Prince Edward High School
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Girls need more attention and help at school because the days we are living now are evil and many cases of rape and child fondling are being reported every day. Most girls are being impregnated because they do not have anyone to share with, so I suggest girl child networks should be formed to offer guidance and counselling for girls in schools.
Talent Chiwambutsa, 17, St Mary’s High School
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Girls need more protection as compared to boys because they are more vulnerable to forms of abuse that includes rape, mental or physical. Boys can stand up to most pressure at school because they are physically strong but their counterparts are weak and require a guiding force.
Wayne Ruzvidzo, 15, Eaglesvale Senior School
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Girls need more protection than boys at school or anywhere else. Girls are weak when it comes to resisting forced sexual abuse or any form of abuse from boys or teachers hence there is need to protect them from such problems before they eventually get pregnant and kicked out of school.
Josphat Mafemba, 19, Oxford High School
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In a bid of not being a sexist, I think girls need more protection than boys because they are physically disadvantaged. For instance the Boko Haram incident should knock something in our heads as many girls were abducted because they could not help themselves. So I think more protection should be given to the girl child.
Esther Makwenda, 16, Eaglesvale Senior School
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At our school girls have more protection than boys of which it is a good thing since we all know how the abuse rates are escalating on the girl child every day. Girls are too emotional in almost everything they do so they need to be closely monitored to avoid bad luck on their future.
Brendon Fazani, 18, Ezekiel Guti Community College
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As a girl child I think I deserve more protection at school or anywhere because I am vulnerable than the boys. I am a future mother who is focused on my education and would not want to be wasted by child molesters who abuse my right and future. I need a conducive environment that allows me to work hard and be a better someone.
Panashe, 16, Marlborough High School
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I think both boys and girls need protection from each other at school or outside because they are all vulnerable. Girls are not fitter than boys so in any contest they will lose and at the same time boys are being abused by older women who ask for sexual favours before inflicting the deadly HIV on them, hence there should be equal efforts to try and protect both boys and girls in schools.
Sasha Mutumha, 19, First Choice College
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I think both boys and girls need to be protected equally, but I have often seen that boys are being left out by the emergence of many girl child organisations. The coin seem to have flipped, boys are now vulnerable although they boast of being the strongest but going through all forms of abuse if not worse.
Yvonne Mutombeni, 15, Eaglesvale Senior School
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We cannot protect one student and live the other vulnerable, at the same time we cannot run away from the fact that girls suffer the most because they are regarded as weak and can be subjected to any form of abuse. However, need rises to protect mostly the girl child and to a lesser extent the boys too.
Dennis Karimupfumbi,19, Oxford High School.
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