New Projects: ZAZI Girls Club and Computer Class

ZAZI Girls Club 
“Recent research and statistics suggest the need for a renewed focus on sexual and reproductive health for women and girls in South Africa. Teenage pregnancy, the relatively low uptake of contraceptive services, and women’s vulnerability to HIV and STIs and other critical issues prompted SANAC Women’s Sector to partner with USAID/JHUHIV, PEPFAR, DWCPD, DOH, and DSD to create a national campaign to champion women’s health, rights, and empowerment. The campaign was officially launched in May 2013” (ZAZI 2013).

“The ZAZI campaign encourages women and girls to draw on their inner strength, power, and self-confidence to know themselves and what they stand for in order to guide their decisions about their future. The campaign has advocacy, mass media and community mobilisation activities. The ZAZI campaign was designed by women for women, and seeks to help women ‘know their strength’” (ZAZI 2013).

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Phindile, Wendy, Zikhona and I have begun a weekly group using the ZAZI campaign’s 10-session toolkit for women’s sexual and reproductive health. Ezakheni Township’s first ZAZI Girls Club has 18 Grade 10 and 11 learners from Ekukhuleni High School. The girls are 15-19-years-old, on the younger side for the programme, but nonetheless eager to participate in the campaign. I’ve adapted some sessions and activities, but for the most part, the toolkit hits on critical issues that affect women and girls of all ages in South Africa.

Sexual and reproductive health should be covered in Life Orientation and Biology classes, but sadly, young men and women have lots of unanswered questions, bad explanations, and not enough reliable sources for sound information. Virginity, sex, and the body are still taboo topics in many ways. For instance, there are no words in isiZulu for female or male genitals. Inside and outside of the classroom, reproductive and sexual health is discussed in vague terms. Enter: the ZAZI campaign. Each session covers relevant topics and information women and girls.

Last week we focused on how the male and female reproductive and sexual health systems actually work, breaking down one body part at a time. Talking about anatomy in a safe space leads to the most surprising questions and discussions. We addressed myths about the body, and social expectations for men and women regarding sex, virginity, parenthood, and sexual expression. (They were obsessed and slightly horrified with how tampons work, even bunking an extra of mine in a cup to watch it absorb water. Most of them have no interest in using tampons, but they were very curious about where they go, how they work or if they affect virginity.)

We are a month into our first ZAZI group. The girls are more cohesive, engaged and motivated with each session. They want to come, learn, and share. Two of my co-facilitators are mothers in their 40s, while Zikhona is 21. We make up an unusual team of facilitators, but somehow it really works. Wednesdays are no longer hump days, but ZAZI days. I can’t wait for next week’s session on life changes, where we’ll cover puberty, menstruation and menopause.

Computer Class

The previous PCV in Ezakheni, Samantha Croffut, organized the donation of 20 computers from the Council of KwaZulu-Natal Jewry in Durban. Yes, that’s right. Jews in Durban donated 20 working computers to Nswelamanzivela Primary School in Ezakheni Township! It is a huge deal for a school to have working a computer lab, a basic computer literacy course for learners or even a computer-literate staff. Thanks to Sam’s efforts, we are tackling all three! After over a year-and-a-half of securing the donations, preparing the room and setting up the computers, the computer lab was officially launched last October.

I would, in no way, consider myself a particularly computer savvy person. Despite this, I offered to help train trainers (aka teach the teachers) basic computer literacy—how the computer works, Word, Excel and Power Point. Lots of PCV have done similar projects, so I had lots of curriculum to draw on when putting together a basic computer literacy course for adults. 

Once Term 1 got underway, I started classes with eight interested teachers (and the principal, when she can make it). We meet after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and I’ve got to say, these ladies are fabulous! At first it was a bit daunting to go into a classroom and teach teachers twice my age. By the second week however, their motivation, commitment and humor made our weekly classes the highlight of my week. 

I am so proud of their progress. In just eight sessions they have mastered so many skills. One woman, Mrs. Xaba, is so into the class that she even purchased her own laptop last week. I never expected to be teaching in a computer lab during my Peace Corps service, but it’s been a great project. Once these ladies are confident in their skills, I’ll work with them to develop and launch a feasible computer programme for their learners.