adminare bright in the light chill as he chats cheerily to the teenage girl keeping pace with him, and occasionally helping him over the slippery ground.
The pair steps up to the entrance of a small building close to the clinic and the old man says to an officer there: “I have brought my granddaughter. She wants an HIV test so that we can plan for her life.”
The officer takes the girl through to an inner room and begins the process of voluntary testing and counselling.
Ngorima Youth Centre, in rural Rusitu, 300km from Mutare along a road that first perches along precarious peaks, then snakes along slippery gravel, is an example of what a programme can achieve when a community says ‘Yes’.
The four-roomed structure used to be a disused house but it is now a youth centre where young people meet daily to discuss and get information on health.
Many times, the issue of sexual and reproductive health among adolescents has led to a strained relationship between agencies and communities. Communities feel some of the issues raised are guidelines to immorality.
The old man, Sekuru Ngorima, says his granddaughter Linda (15), spoke to him about HIV.
“Both her parents died five years ago. HIV and Aids are serious issues in this area and we have lost many young people,” he said shaking his grey head.
He adds: “So now, we pay attention to save young lives.”
The youth centre was established at the time the area was experiencing its worst effects from HIV.
“We began this centre in 2006, under that mango tree,” said the youth health advisor at the centre, Mwaonedza Mushango, pointing to a sturdy tree in the middle of the yard.
“We lobbied the local leadership, and the rural district council availed a small room to us at the clinic. We kept talking to the local leadership and we were eventually given an old building to use.
“In 2008 we were funded by the Global Fund to renovate the building and we now have our youth centre,” he said.
Simon Mukondomi is the headman of the area – Ward 21 Ngorima A – a respected man, whose stern looks belie a deep thinker who is surprisingly open about issues that many elders would consider taboo.
“When we first heard about the centre, we were open to it but we needed to know more.”
Mushangu mobilised the people and soon he managed to explain what he wanted to do and we discussed the issues amicably.
“Our children were spending a lot of time in the township, hanging around the bars, and generally running wild.
“We needed a place like this for them to come and learn about their health and how to take care of themselves. HIV really affected us here, and anything that assisted our children was most welcome,” he said.
The youth centre has a VCT site which offers rapid testing, while the adjoining clinic offers anti-retroviral therapy.
The centre is more popular among the young people for the games and the library.
Moses Munai is 18 years old, and goes to Ndima Secondary School in the area.
“I come here to read and benefit from the games and books here.
“This centre keeps us out of trouble,” said Moses, who is a member of the Young Writers’ Club and is also an artist whose work adorns some of the walls of the centre.
Tariro Sibanda (16) is a member of the darts team which has swept all before them and is due to play in the Manicaland provincial finals.
“I enjoy the game. It helps my Maths and improves my skills in judging where to place the flights,” she said.
The centre also boasts a volleyball court, a netball court – all basic – marked out in the soil – but effective and proudly cared for.
A television room, with a free to air satellite dish and DVD player, is very popular.
Indoor games include card games and table tennis.
Half an hour after he arrived at the centre, Sekuru Ngorima looks up at the sound of his granddaughter’s voice.
“Let’s go home, Sekuru. My results are out. I’m negative,” she says.
Had she tested positive, she would have been referred for a CD4 count – which is not available at the centre. However, ART and a new support group would have been on hand to help her through.
As the pair steps away into the mist which is lifting now, the words of the Headman Mukondomi, commonly referred to as Mtape, come through.
“Lack of information will stop progress. Placing unnecessary political spin on issues that help young people will stop our children going forward. As long as we elders do what we are supposed to do for the children, our future is bright.
“We have chosen to do that, and we see brighter days for these young people, and also for us.”
The will to participate is clear among the community elders.
Loveness Fife is a grandmother, and every week she takes time to teach the children here the local muchongoyo dance.
“I was taught this dance by my father, and I am glad it has now found a place among these young people. This place has allowed me to teach the young people what we used to do and how we used to do it,” she said.
She is proud of her dancing and says it has helped her see new places.
“We have a group called Ndiyadzo Group and we have danced at many functions across the province,” she said proudly.
“But I am proudest when I am here, teaching these young people.”
According to statistics from the provincial Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council office, the centre reached 2 079 youths (0-24) in the third quarter of 2011.
Most of the people attending the centre were aged 10-14 (245 male and 194 female), followed by the 15-19 age group (194 male and 191 female).
A committee of local leaders, headed by Christine Sithole coordinates the affairs of the centre.
“We take gender issues very seriously here,” she said.
Added Sithole: “We talk to the local leaders, and our efforts have always borne fruit.”
The committee includes a pastor, a retired school head, a headman and two locals.
The ZNFPC provincial manager, Mercy Tsitsidzashe Makaudze-Mandidzo, has an explanation for the extraordinary buy-in of the local community.
“It’s a combination of a clear explanation of the strategy by the local team, a strong local leadership that prioritises the needs of children and a strong support from our offices, too.
“When all that comes together, as it has done in this case, we have a project with full local support, which is what makes a project successful. We are happy this has happened here, and we will continue to try to make it so in all areas,” she said.
ZNFPC runs 26 youth centres around the country.
Online Reporter