Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
The Government, in partnership with UNICEF and the Forum for African Women Educationalists Zimbabwe (FAWEZI), has launched the Resilient, Innovative, Skilled and Empowered (RISE) project.
The project was launched during the commemorations of the International Day of the Girl Child 2025 at Seke 5 High School in Chitungwiza, recently.
The initiative, which will directly benefit 24 000 adolescent girls in Chitungwiza and Chipinge districts, aims to strengthen girls’ access to education, leadership development and life skills, while addressing barriers such as child marriage, early pregnancy and gender-based violence.
Speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Mr Moses Mhike, the Director for Gender Mainstreaming, Inclusivity and Wellness, Ms Itai Zinzombe, said the programme came at a critical time when many girls continued to face social and economic barriers that hinder their progress.
“As we celebrate girls today, we also recognise their leadership, resilience and power to shape a brighter future for themselves and our nation. Girls are not passive beneficiaries of change; they are active agents of transformation, even amidst crisis,” she said.
UNICEF Representative in Zimbabwe Ms Etona Ekole said the launch marked a milestone in efforts to empower adolescent girls to rise above challenges and lead change in their communities.
“Today we celebrate not just girls’ resilience, but their power to lead,” she said. “Through this initiative, 24 000 adolescent girls in Chitungwiza and Chipinge will gain access to opportunities in STEM education, leadership development and life skills.”
FAWEZI Executive Director Ms Lydia Madyirapanze said the RISE project was not just a programme, but a declaration that every girl in Zimbabwe deserved to learn, lead and thrive.
Representing the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Provincial Development Officer Mr Enerst Chimboza reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to empowering girls across all sectors.
