Zimbabwe: Breaking down barriers for rural girls

In the rural villages of Silobela, under Zibagwe Rural District Council in Kwekwe, generations of girls have grown up burdened by beliefs that deny them opportunity. Many were kept out of school, forced into early marriages, or trapped in abusive homes with no path to independence. These harmful practices were justified through deeply rooted stereotypes, ideas that educating a girl was a waste, that her place was only in the home, that women should not work, and that girls’ aspirations did not matter.

My name is Mpofu Ester, and as the Junior Councillor for Ward 26, I carry the responsibility of being the voice of girls who have been silenced for far too long. I grew up in this same rural community, witnessing first-hand how discrimination shaped the lives of girls and women. When I stepped into leadership, I knew my role was not simply to represent young people, I needed to challenge and transform the harmful norms that denied girls their rights, dreams, and dignity.

My work began with one goal: to ensure that no girl suffers abuse or is denied education because of outdated beliefs. To achieve this, I started holding awareness campaigns, speaking at community gatherings, and addressing learners during school assemblies. At the core of my message was empowerment through knowledge—teaching girls, families, and community leaders about constitutional rights, equality, health, self‑protection, and the value of educating the girl child.

Through these engagements, I addressed painful realities: early marriages, girls dropping out of school, women prevented from working, and the abuse faced by wives who were financially dependent on their husbands. Many girls shared stories of being forced out of school, abandoned to household chores, or pushed into marriage simply because society said their futures did not matter. Those who married young often suffered emotional and physical abuse because they lacked financial independence and education.

I knew this cycle had to end.

Transforming Mindsets, Transforming Lives

The change that followed was life‑changing for girls and women across Silobela. During one major community gathering, I delivered a speech titled “As a Girl Child, I Want My Rights.” Speaking boldly and publicly challenged community elders to rethink their beliefs. I reminded them that every child, boy or girl, has a right to education. I explained that when a girl is educated, the entire family benefits. She can build a career, contribute financially, and support her parents in times of need. I highlighted that men and women are equal under the law, and that denying girl's opportunities was a violation of their constitutional rights. My message resonated. Slowly, attitudes began to shift. Parents began sending their daughters to school. Women who were previously confined to domestic spaces were encouraged to seek work and pursue skills. The community started recognizing that empowering girls was not a threat to tradition, it was a pathway out of poverty. Girls gained confidence. Women found their voices. Families began to imagine new possibilities for their daughters.

How the Change Happened

This transformation did not happen by chance, it was the result of organised, community‑driven action.

1. Shifting mindsets through education and awareness

Through rights‑based campaigns, public speeches, and school assemblies, community members learned about equality, the dangers of harmful stereotypes, and the value of girl education.

2. Creating income‑generating opportunities for women

To address financial barriers, especially for mothers who could not afford school fees, the community established women empowerment centres offering skills such as:

• Weaving and knitting
• Hairdressing
• Poultry production (hens, fowls, pigeons, turkeys)
• Baking (cakes, bread, pies)
• Pottery
• Vending and shop‑keeping

Women began selling eggs to schools, supplying meat to butcheries, baking for nearby markets, and running their own small enterprises. These programmes allowed women to earn money independently giving them dignity, confidence, and the ability to pay school fees for their daughters.

3. Reversing harmful patterns of child marriage and poverty

With increased awareness and financial independence, child marriages decreased significantly. Girls who once stayed home now attended school. Families that struggled in poverty previously are now supported by income earned through women‑led initiatives.

As employment opportunities for women expanded, violence against women decreased as well. Financial independence meant they no longer relied solely on men, reducing vulnerability to abuse. Today, the community has female teachers, nurses, and business owners who come from Silobela, living proof of what education makes possible.

Sustaining and Scaling Up the Change

The community aims to expand opportunities for women and girls by:

• Establishing more training centres offering vocational skills
• Creating factories, industries, and workspaces for women after training
• Building irrigation sites for crop production and income generation
• Constructing markets for women to sell produce and goods
• Developing sites for tailoring, dressmaking, and uniform production
• Creating sports grounds to nurture girls’ talents in soccer, netball, tennis, basketball and more

These initiatives will ensure that girls continue accessing education, stay out of early marriages, and become self‑reliant, successful women.

Evidence of Change

The transformation is visible everywhere:

• A significant increase in the number of girls attending school
• Women running grocery shops, food stalls, bakeries, and pottery businesses
• Girls supported by working mothers who can now pay fees
• More female professionals from the community—teachers, nurses, artisans
• Families with dual income earners (husband and wife)
• A marked decline in child marriages
• Reduced violence against women due to financial independence

The change is real, measurable, and life‑changing.

Quotes

Bianca Phiri - Let’s educate a girl child

Vanesa Mlilo - Child marriages have decreased

Thandolwenkosi Tshuma - We have financially empowered women.

By: Mpofu Ester