The Forum for African Women Educationalists Zimbabwe (FAWEZI), in partnership with Together for Girls under the Data for Change programme, has launched a pilot model to combat school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) in six schools across Chitungwiza.
The initiative aims to create safer learning environments by identifying the main forms and drivers of SRGBV, developing school-based interventions, and setting up systems to monitor progress and measure impact.
FAWEZI says the model will help build stronger internal mechanisms—such as clear reporting channels, teacher training, and codes of conduct—to ensure that violence is not ignored or normalised within school settings.
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Evidence shows that such interventions are urgently needed. According to Zimbabwe’s Violence Against Children and Youth Survey, around 8% of female and 11% of male students have experienced physical or sexual violence in or around schools, most often at the hands of peers or teachers. Yet only a small fraction of cases are ever reported, leaving many children to suffer in silence.
Incidents of sexual harassment, corporal punishment, and peer bullying are among the most common forms of SRGBV, and girls remain disproportionately affected.
Researchers have linked school-based sexual abuse to teenage pregnancy, early marriage, and school dropouts, particularly in high-density areas such as Chitungwiza where overcrowded classrooms and weak disciplinary systems heighten risks.
Globally, the United Nations estimates that 246 million kids experience some form of violence in or around school every year. FAWEZI’s pilot, which follows a whole-school approach, seeks to reverse that trend by strengthening leadership accountability, empowering students to speak up, and engaging parents and communities in protection efforts.
If successful, the Chitungwiza model could be scaled up nationwide—helping turn schools into spaces of safety, dignity, and equal opportunity for every child
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