Patience Muchemwa- Senior Reporter
UNICEF, in partnership with the Forum for African Women Educationalists Zimbabwe, gathered at Seke 5 High School on Saturday to commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child 2025 and officially launch the RISE Programme.
The event ran under the global theme, “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontlines of Crisis.”
The RISE Programme targets adolescent girls and young women between the ages of 10 and 24, as well as their families, communities, and policymakers. The initiative seeks to strengthen the resilience, skills, and empowerment of girls to promote gender equality and sustainable development.
Speaking at the event, UNICEF Representative in Zimbabwe, Ms. Etona Ekole, explained that the RISE Programme aims to equip girls with essential life skills, self-confidence, and economic independence.
“We want to ensure that girls can make informed decisions about their own lives and contribute meaningfully to their communities,” she said.
Ms. Ekole also highlighted the need to protect girls from vulnerabilities that often hinder their growth and potential.
“Girls need to be able to navigate their physical protection because it is not always guaranteed. They face the added burden of early pregnancy — a challenge boys do not experience. We want to ensure that girls have the skills to say no, to protect themselves, and the opportunity to manage their menstrual hygiene,” she added.
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Dr. Kujeke, the District Schools Inspector for Chitungwiza, applauded UNICEF and FAWEZI for launching the programme in the community. He emphasized the importance of ending early marriages and changing harmful cultural practices that hinder girls’ education.
“Families must stop forcing under-18 girls into marriage. Parents should empower the girl child so that she is treated equally with men,” he urged.
FAWEZI Executive Director, Ms. Lydia Madyirapanze, highlighted the impact and reach of the RISE Programme.
“The RISE Project, supported by UNICEF and implemented by FAWEZI in collaboration with government, will reach 24,000 adolescent girls in Chipinge and Chitungwiza,” she said.
Ms. Madyirapanze also noted that, for many years, girls in Zimbabwe have faced systemic barriers that limited their opportunities. In the past, many were forced into early marriages, dropped out of school due to pregnancy, or were denied education altogether while their male counterparts continued their studies.
Others experienced gender-based violence and social discrimination that undermined their self-worth and future prospects.
The RISE Programme seeks to change that narrative by creating a safer, more inclusive environment for girls to thrive.
The colourful event was attended by government officials, teachers, community leaders, development partners, and parents. Children from local schools performed songs, poems, and dances dedicated to UNICEF and FAWEZI, celebrating the organizations’ ongoing efforts to uplift the girl child.
Through partnerships like the RISE Programme, Zimbabwe continues to take bold steps towards ensuring that every girl has the right to education, safety, and empowerment — building a generation of confident, skilled, and resilient young women.
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