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Locadia Mavhudzi Midlands Reporter
ADOLESCENT girls have been urged to stop taking nude pictures for their boyfriends, as it compromises their future. Speaking at the launch of Tag-a-Life annual girls and young women conference in Gweru on Saturday, the organisation’s director, Ms Nyaradzo Mashayamombe, said the pictures often came back to haunt the girls when they got married or become respectably employed. She said the social media was being abused by people who circulated nude pictures when relationships ended.

“I urge you girls to use social media to empower yourselves through learning,” she said. “My heart bleeds for young girls who have their nude pictures circulated. Why take them in the first place? That belittles the status of the girl child in society.” Speaking at the same event, Midlands Provincial Education Director Mrs Agnes Gudo said the new education curriculum introduced in schools unveiled opportunities for girls to empower themselves through non-formal education.

She said young girls were vulnerable to social ills due to socialisation, compared to their boy counterparts, hence many of them drop out from school at an early age. Mrs Gudo said the new curriculum offered second chance education for girls who dropped out of school for various reasons.

“As the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, we recognise your vulnerabilities as young girls, hence we now have a facility where you can continue with your education despite your circumstances,” said Mrs Gudo.

“The new curriculum allows you to have a second chance to continue with your education and harness even the non academic skills that you possess. Second chance education targets children who may be orphaned, HIV positive, or disabled, as well as those who come from poor families, child-headed households, or who live on the streets. It places particular emphasis on girls and prioritises child protection, gender, HIV and Aids, and disability issues.” Mrs Gudo urged girls from rural areas and disadvantaged background to utilise hands-on skills that they had to excel in life.

“You all have talents and the most important thing is to do your best,” she said. “Music, dance, arts, sports and culinary skills are some of the areas where you can fine tune your skills and earn a living.” The one-day girls and young women conference drew 250 adolescent girls and young women from Gweru, Zvishavane, Kwekwe and Shurugwi, who are peer educators in their communities. The conference also discussed various issues affecting young women such as sexual reproductive health rights, gender based violence, HIV and Aids and girls participation in leadership.