IDEX Board member and adventurer, Diane Dodge, undertook a field visit to IDEX's partners in South Africa and Zimbabwe over the holiday season. Diane began her trip in Zimbabwe and visited IDEX partner, Girl Child Network (GCN), in Hwange to learn more about their programs and the situation in Zimbabwe.

Diane first met with Ruth, GCN's Program Officer. Ruth explained that in the last few years many people have left Zimbabwe because of the economic and political crises. This has created lots of vacancies in social organizations that work with GCN. Since there are fewer resources to connect with, there has been less support available. Although it has been a challenging time, GCN continues to provide counseling and support to the girls as well as tuition and school supplies.

GCN continues to plays a critical role in raising the profile of abuse in Zimbabwe. They support girls both in filing police reports and when they attend court to give evidence. GCN has been instrumental in encouraging people to speak out about abuse and persuading the courts to convict perpetrators.

After Zimbabwe, Diane traveled to meet several IDEX grantees in South Africa and spent some time in Cape Town. By chance, she found herself at a flea market one day where she started talking with a couple selling Zimbabwean artwork. She was delighted to discover that the woman, named Maurible, was not only from Zimbabwe, but that she had been a girl at Girl Child Network.

She greeted Diane warmly and shared her story. Maurible, now 21, credits GCN with saving her life and still regards herself as a GCN girl today. Maurible learned of GCN when she rescued from an abusive situation as a girl. GCN provided her school fees and supplies, and later she became an intern with them, in turn, helping other girls.

When the situation got really tough in Zimbabwe, GCN helped her raise some money to leave the country. Now she is in Cape Town and she says her life is good. She is married and has a little girl. The business is going well, too. Maurible says she will always appreciate GCN and hopes her daughter can experience such a powerful support program to help her find a place in the world.

Labels: GCN, Zimbabwe

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