"Young People We Care!" – Making a difference in Zimbabwe

Seventeen-year old Martha has grown up in an era of HIV and AIDS. While prevention programmes exhort her and other young Zimbabweans to ‘fight AIDS’, Martha and her siblings live with the effects of the disease every day. After all, they took care of their ill mother and father before both passed away. Martha is still grieving for her parents, but, thanks to an innovative DFID-supported programme known as Young People We Care! (YPWC), she no longer feels that she must cope on her own.

07/06/2007

A new force against hunger in Zimbabwe

There is no denying that Zimbabwe is a country in crisis. Hunger is a major threat and over recent years annual appeals for food aid have been the norm. But as well as supporting these appeals through the World Food Programme, since 2004 DFID has aimed to address some of the causes, rather than just treat the symptoms, of Zimbabwe’s desperate situation.

23/05/2007

Fighting the stigma of HIV/AIDS: the Pastor’s story

In Zimbabwe, although the majority of people know about HIV and AIDS, there is still a widespread belief that being HIV-positive is shameful, even “a punishment from God”. The stigma that surrounds infection prevents people from getting tested, seeking treatment and admitting their HIV-positive status to others.

25/04/2007

Overcoming the stigma of HIV and AIDS: Bernard's story

Experience shows that helping people living with HIV and AIDS get access to treatment, mutual support, and ways to get their voices heard at local and national levels is particularly effective in tackling stigma. Which is why DFID supports the creation of 'New Life' centres across Zimbabwe, which provide literally life-saving support, access to services, and a forum to meet others.

09/11/2006

How Zimbabwe's hairdressers are cutting HIV infection

Condoms are a huge success story in Zimbabwe. 900,000 female condoms were sold in 2005 alone, the highest sales per capita in the world. But you might be surprised to know that more than 50% of these were distributed through a network of 500 hair salons and 1000 hair dressers trained through a DFID-funded programme.

10/10/2006

Books, bricks and belief

Here on the outskirts of Harare, with the assistance of DFID and UNICEF, a village community is rallying round to ensure the current economic crisis does not exclude their children from the classroom.

13/06/2006

Cultivating hope for Zimbabwe's farming families

In rural Zimbabwe, DFID''s support to the Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA) is helping vulnerable families affected by AIDS to build better lives for themselves through training and the provision of farming technology.

09/06/2006