She says she resorted to prostitution because she had no education and no skills to get her gainful employment. “I was raped and assaulted several times and many customers did not pay for my services,” she said in an exclusive interview with The Zimbabwean.
But thanks to a local NGO, the International Rescue Mission Ministry, she has left that miserable life behind her and has become involved in an income-generation project. Women and girls in Mutare’s high density suburbs are benefitting from two projects begun in 2009 aimed at helping them to quit prostitution. Funded by IRMM, the projects focus on sewing and poultry – popularly known as the Road Runner Chickens.
The sewing project has not only helped Nyambabvu to quit prostitution, but has also helped her to construct a two-roomed house and provide for her family.
“When I remember how I used to suffer; how my children used to sleep hungry and even failed to go to school because of lack of school fees, I cannot stop working hard. I can pay school fees for my children and other relatives after selling the outfits I make in the sewing project,” she said.
George Bvute, the ministry’s Projects Manager for Zimbabwe said his organization’s mission was to offer compassion and love that rescues unreached communities through raising Godly leaders serving as change agents with commitment to Global Impact.
“As Christians we are geared to assist in carrying the burden of less privileged people and also to restore hope to those who have lost it. Our vision is to be the leading Christian ministry sending out reliable missionary agents to most of Africa and the rest of the world by 2025,” he said.
Another former prostitute, Hilda Musengeyi, said: “I am so glad that I am one of the women who is privileged to be here in the sewing project where we are learning how to make outfits for sale. Now I believe that God has a purpose even for poor people like me. I can now see that I am on the way towards helping take care of my old mother and paying the school fees for my young brothers and sisters. I count it as a favour which has come in due season from the Lord.”
The sewing project in Sakubva is worth $10,000 and it has 15 members. In Dangamvura, the poultry project, also worth $10,000, has helped 20 former prostitutes, most of whom are HIV positive and living positively. They receive a steady income from the sale of eggs and road runner chickens to the local community.
Currently, the poultry project generates an estimated monthly profit of $8,475. The manure produced by the chickens is used to fertilize the members’ agricultural fields, resulting in increased yields.
Bvute said a supplementary benefit of the Poultry Project was that it had given the women valuable agricultural skills.
“We can now see new hope for our lives. We can now dare to think that we are going to be the channel of hope to other women. We are now our own employers rather than selling our bodies for money. We are also being trained for free, and we will now also teach our fellow women for free,” said another member of the project, Theresa Mureza.
Post published in: News