Unite against child marriage (Courtesy)
By: Fortune Munsaka, Zimbabwe
Worth Noting:
- YOUNGVOICES focuses on the geographical environment, normadic regions, scarcity of resources, religious, traditional and political practices as the major causes of child marriages in most parts of Africa. One of the Organization’s area of interest is the impact Child marriage has on the girl child. School drop outs,increase in domestic violence, increase in suicide rate, abuse and depression. Said one of the founders.
- In an interview, the mentioned founders emphasized that they do not neglect the boy child but he is part of the map as he is also a victim. “Similar to Child brides, child grooms are also forced to take on adult responsibilities which result in early fatherhood. Commented one of the speakers.
A group of young people mainly from Harare, Zimbabwe has launched a non- profit organization “YOUNG-VOICES” which stands to hold Child Marriages with its horns. The organization is behind the brains of a young…..years old man Talent Chiweya who believes that young people need to be respected and listened to whenever they speak. “Young Voices” is an organization of young people of Zimbabwe who want to fight our voices to become real. Our voices as young people must be respected and listened to whenever we speak and action must be taken either you’re male or female” said, Chiweya.
The organization runs its programs throughout the week mainly online. This is where the young youths discuss issues to do with Child Marriages, HIV and AIDS issues, GBV,Women Empowerment. “Yes,we know that a girl child has some challenges she’s facing, that’s true and we need to respect her, but let us also remember we have a male child who is also in trouble but it’s sad because he cannot speak out because tiri kuti murume hanzo kufa kumurume kubuda Hura. Which is 100% wrong. So they all need our support. Said the founder.
YOUNGVOICES seeks to bury stigma and discrimination, fight against Child rape, early pregnancies, drug abuse, creating a room for mental health among many other social ails. In an interview, Mr. Talent added by noting the presence of stigma and discrimination in the community between young people living with HIV and disabilities and they’re the most vulnerable and abused because of their statuses. Mr. Chiweya is worried mostly as he says “Theres no one to help or support the vulnerable as they endure hidden pains and end up opting for suicide as the only solution”
This organization is not only run by Mr. Talent as the main sailor, but Munashe Marisa, Mitchell Madembe, Crystal Mambudzi, Nyasha Vengesai and Martina Mahomed are also powerful hands that maintain the smooth operation of the initiative.
In one of their first weekly discussions, the speakers addressed the causes, effects and solutions to Child Marriages. “The people who are supposed to protect a girl child and her rights are the ones who betray her by forcing her into marriage” says, Mitchell Madembe, one of the founders. Nyasha stressed the point that in some cases, it is not always forced situation but a girl will be wanting to get married. “Yes, sometimes it’s not forced marriage, I have seen girls vachitozvita kufurirwa chaiko.”
YOUNGVOICES focuses on the geographical environment, normadic regions, scarcity of resources, religious, traditional and political practices as the major causes of child marriages in most parts of Africa. One of the Organization’s area of interest is the impact Child marriage has on the girl child. School drop outs,increase in domestic violence, increase in suicide rate, abuse and depression. Said one of the founders.
In an interview, the mentioned founders emphasized that they do not neglect the boy child but he is part of the map as he is also a victim. “Similar to Child brides, child grooms are also forced to take on adult responsibilities which result in early fatherhood. Commented one of the speakers.
The organization founders are hungry to reduce the impact of Child Marriages by counseling the victims,organizing community Out-reaches,awarenes campaigns, reporting the cases to the nearest police stations,to partner with other Youths orgs, like Msasa,UN Women and other child protection organizations.
Mr. Talent and his team are confident that YOUNGVOICES will bring positivechangein he society if given necessary support.
_Munsaka Fortune
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