“TaLI was started to empower and inspire girl children, especially from vulnerable backgrounds, to show them that they can rise above their challenges to have the life they want,” said Mashayamombe.
She targets young boys, mothers, fathers, ordinary community members, government officials, schools, NGOs and all social players to help her develop the girl child agenda.
From an early age, Mashayamombe knew how to take care of other people.
“I was the darling of the family. I always wanted to provide solutions, even for my mother and older siblings. All this was in rural Shurugwi, where I was born and did my primary and secondary education.”
Mashayamombe’s inspiration on Girl Child issues surfaced during her high school days.
“At school I never liked boys who thought girls where less important. I lost a lot of my friends, some to early marriages and others to HIV and AIDS. I grew up amongst pain. Rural schoolteachers date pupils and get away with it. Young girls always fell prey to these married teachers. I grew up in a society that treated girls like second class citizens. I felt girls were not as assertive in terms of the choices they made, standing up for their rights and even in prioritizing school,” said Mashayamombe.
Mashayamombe has an unwavering passion for her trade, an honest and humble attitude to her work and an ambitious view of the future of Girl Child Rights.
Qualified in Marketing and Public Relations with the Institute of Marketing Management of South Africa (2004) and Human Resources Management with the Institute of People Management in Zimbabwe (2006), Mashayamombe’s passion for Girl Child Rights has seen her working with various international organisations.
“I have worked with Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe, the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development, the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture, the American Women’s Crisis Support Team, Irex, United States Embassy in Zimbabwe, HIVOS, the Embassy of India to Zimbabwe and Saf AIDS and the US State Department. I also work with more than 50 global leaders across the world.”
Mashayamombe has also tried her luck in the music industry by recording gospel songs in 2000. She is also keen to promote open dialogue about the issues affecting communities.
“It is important to engage parents as most inequality is practiced at home, in communities and in schools. For all forms of inequality and violence against girls to stop, it has to involve everyone.”
Attributing her success to her mother’s inspiration, Mashayamombe in 2012 won a Global Leadership Development Programme by the US State Department.
With a view to expand TaLI countrywide and across the entire African continent,
Mashayamombe says, “Southern Africa has tried to empower women, although much is required.”
Mashayamombe’s message is that young girls need to be taken seriously.
“Believe your girls when they show any signs of abuse. Report the abuse to police and other organisations who can help you.”
Post published in: News