Zimpapers Logo

Locadia Mavhudzi Midlands Correspondent
A local welfare organisation, Jointed Hands Welfare Organisation has facilitated the reintegration of 285 vulnerable teenagers into secondary schools in Midlands Province who had dropped out of school due to teenage pregnancy.

The organisation is one of the implementing partners working with the National Aids Council (NAC) to identify and nurture teenagers who are in and out of school empowering them with HIV and AIDS information and services under the Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe project (DREAMS).

Presenting facts at a district health stakeholder’s forum Jointed Hands Welfare Organisation Programs Manager Mr Peter Dube said they have this year paid school fees for 285 vulnerable girls in Gweru urban and rural districts covering Lower Gweru, Shurugwi, and Chiundura.

“We have managed to re -integrate 285 teenage mothers back into the school system. We paid their school fees and have recruited community volunteers who will be taking care of their children while they attend lessons.  The objective is to empower the teenage mothers through education so that they can continue to work hard and realise their dreams.”

The DREAMS partnership is an ambitious public-private partnership to reduce rates of HIV among adolescent girls and young women. Mr Dube said their main component in the DREAMS initiative is mainly based on economic empowerment hence they are also paying school fees for some selected teenagers in schools.

“We also paid school fees for 600 girls in secondary schools this year. However we have realised that the more girls need economic support but due to limited funding we could only accommodate the most vulnerable according to our assessments.”

Meanwhile, NAC District Aids Coordinator Mr Murari Hwingwiri said there has been a marked improvement in seeking health services for the 20 to 24-year age group in the district.