Following her attendance at several strategic meetings and trainings organized by the CYDT on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), Ms. Nokuthaba Ncube, a local young woman from Ward 6 in Gwanda, launched a health campaign to protect and educate her peers. The targeted initiative, which commenced in June 2024 and continues to run […]
Youth Championing Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Read More »
CYDT implemented a digital storytelling and online engagement campaign from February to July 2025 across Beitbridge, Gwanda and Umzingwane targeting young women and youth in a busy border province where misinformation about health and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) was increasingly circulating on social media platforms. Many young women were exposed to misleading
Fighting Misinformation on Social Media: Strengthening SRHR Awareness Among Young Women Read More »
A group of adolescent and young women in Gwanda Rural have been supported to remain in education and make informed life choices through a community-based empowerment initiative led by CYDT. The initiative, implemented from January to June 2024, established “Young Women Girl Power Clubs” across rural communities to address challenges related to early marriage pressures,
Young Women Empowerment: Girl Power Clubs Initiative Read More »
The relationship between local authorities and women in Mangwe District has strengthened following a Local Governance Indaba conducted by the Community Youth Development Trust (CYDT) in early 2025, where women raised concerns about access to fair and suitable vending spaces. The Indaba brought women and local authorities together to discuss issues affecting women’s participation in
Women Put Fair Access to Vending Space on the Local Governance Agenda Read More »
Portia Sebata, a 46-year-old single mother from Tshibhidzanani Area, Makakavhule Village, Ward 6 in Beitbridge, is one of the women whose livelihood has been transformed through the Self-Help Group (SHG) Approach supported by the Community Youth Development Trust (CYDT). Following the death of her husband, who had been the main breadwinner, Portia was left responsible
From Struggle to Strength:- Portia Sebata’s Journey through the Self-Help Group Approach Read More »
Mulalo Mbedzi is a 20-year-old mother and a member of Pfanelo Savings Group. Before joining the group, Mulalo and her young son faced serious social and economic hardships. Her husband left and travelled to Johannesburg in search of work, leaving her alone with her one-year-and-six-month-old baby boy. With no income and no savings, Mulalo struggled
A better future for my child Read More »
Concerns raised by women during local governance engagements in Beitbridge were taken further during a Gender Mainstreaming and Gender Audit activity conducted by the Community Youth Development Trust (CYDT) in March 2024, giving women and local stakeholders an opportunity to examine how gender considerations are reflected in local planning and service delivery. The activity focused
Beitbridge Women Push for More Gender-Responsive Public Services Read More »
In a remote rural village in Gwanda, there lived a bright and ambitious 18-year-old young woman named Thandie. Having recently completed her secondary education, she was preparing for the transition into adulthood, where new opportunities, independence, and responsibilities were beginning to shape her future. However, she noticed that many young women in her community lacked
Thandie’s New Choice: Learning About the “Double Shield” Strategy Read More »
By Bongiwe Dube Even when everyday life became difficult due to lockdowns and health crises in September 2022, young people in Matabeleland South did not sit back. Instead, a brave group of trained youth community champions stepped up to protect their villages. Through a grassroots movement focused on peer accountability, these champions took the vital
Fighting Impunity: SRHR Champions Leading the Peer Movement Read More »
By Bongiwe Dube Communities across Matabeleland South are taking steps forward by changing how they talk about sexual reproductive health rights (SRHR). For many years, this region has been guided by deep traditional beliefs and cultural norms that treated sex and reproductive health as a complete taboo which cannot be spoken about openly. In the
Bridging the Generational Gap: Community Leaders and Parents Confront SRHR Taboos Read More »
