The Farming Communities Educational Trust (FACET) calls for renewed commitment to protecting and empowering girls, particularly those from farming and rural communities, as the world marks the International Day of the Girl Child under the theme “The Girl I Am, the Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontlines of Crisis.”
FACET expressed solidarity with girls and young women across Mazowe and beyond, urging stakeholders to recognize them not merely as beneficiaries but as leaders driving transformative change.
“This year’s theme is a powerful call to action for development stakeholders to recognize girls not merely as beneficiaries, but as leaders driving transformative change,” the organization said.
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FACET lamented the recent rise in violence and abuse against children, describing it as a crisis that demands urgent collective action. “In recent months, our communities have been shaken by horrific acts of violence against children. Girls have been raped. Children have been found dead in the boot of a car. These are not isolated incidents, they are symptoms of a society that has failed to protect its most vulnerable members,” the statement read.
The organization emphasized that education remains the most powerful tool for protection and empowerment. “At FACET, we believe that education is not just a right, it is a shield. When girls are educated, they are less likely to fall victim to abuse, exploitation, and early marriage. Education provides them with the tools to speak up, seek help, and shape their own futures,” FACET noted.
FACET’s programs in Mazowe focus on ensuring access to quality and equitable education, as well as health services that include Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE). The organization highlighted that topics such as consent, boundaries, reproductive health, and gender equality are “not luxury topics, they are survival skills.”
The Trust also reaffirmed its commitment to advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) among adolescents, ensuring access to contraception, HIV prevention, maternal care, and trauma support. “For girls who fall pregnant before completing school, we offer reintegration pathways that honor their dignity and restore their dreams. We do not stigmatize. We do not abandon. We walk with them every step of the way,” the statement added.
Calling for unity among all sectors of society, FACET urged government, civil society, traditional leaders, parents, and educators to take a stand for the protection and empowerment of the girl child. “Silence is complicity. Shame is not protection. We must build safe spaces, enforce justice, and speak openly about the dangers girls face,” the organization stated.
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