As delegates from around the globe descended on Cape Town for the Mining Indaba, representatives of the United States Agency for International Aid (USAID) and the Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe (Dreams) programme visited Nomzamo in the Strand on Wednesday 11 May, to share some of their work with the delegates of the United States of America (USA) government.
USAID is the world’s premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results. It’s work advances US national security and economic prosperity, demonstrates American generosity, and promotes a path to recipient self-reliance and resilience.
The delegation had a first-hand experience of the work done with beneficiaries. The work includes financial literacy, recognising adolescent girls and young women in the programme.
It also highlighted the impact of the Dreams programme in preventing new HIV infections and promoting livelihoods among Cape Town’s young women.
The visit also helped to demonstrate collaborative work with the multi-sectoral stakeholders in health, education and social development.
Ward 86 councillor Xolani Diniso said the USA has what it called “projects” while Cape Town has Cape Flats.
“With such communities what we all know is that there is poverty, crime, abuse and lack of good education. They indeed came at the right time where we as the community of Lwandle, Nomzamo and Asanda Village we are seeking partners to advance our social standing in relation to education, wellness, poverty, housing and shelter, nutrition, sport, arts and culture,” he said.
Diniso said more so in the times where there is an increase in crime, they seek to be a community that can protect its “children, women and girls”.
He said they were striving to have partnership with whoever that share a common goal with “us that seek to change the living conditions of our people in particular young and vulnerable girls of our community”.
Diniso thanked Team Family Health International 360 (FHI360), former Ward 85 councillor, Simthembile Mfecane and DREAMS for making sure the programme came to Strand to help “our young girls”.
FHI360 is a non-profit organisation working to improve the health and well-being of people in the USA and around the world.
Ntombifuthi Stena, Mentor/Supervisor from FHI360 said the programme catered for girls aged between 10 -24. She said their aim is to empower them with knowledge while they also learn to grow up independently.
“Some of these girls come from vulnerable homes, and they have no one to speak too. We are there for them, and we can relate to their different challenges,” she said.
Stena said they visit local schools such as ACJ, Nomzamo and Silukhanyo primary schools in the area while they also go to areas such as Macassar and Strand.
“We first identify safe spaces where we can gather to instil self-esteem, to stay positive, love themselves and be confident in their daily lives. We also deal with issues of decision makings, their impact in their lives and how to manage stress,” said Stena, adding that “stress is always associated with adults” but children go through such as well and they help them to prevent suicides.
She said they have about 18 sessions which also includes issues such as financial literacy, family health, hygiene etc.
In the Eastern District alone, there are 11 000 FHI360 members.
