Junior Achievement Zimbabwe (JAZ) is a not-profit organisation offering unique and experiential programmes focusing on entrepreneurship and financial literacy. The aim is to open and realise opportunities for young people to find a job and become independent. Since 1999, JAZ has transformed the lives of 300,000 young people in rural and urban areas.
JAZ has been implementing the Aflateen and Aflatoun programmes since 2006. The partnership between Aflatoun International and JAZ has benefitted more than 40,000 young people, 28,000 being females, in 4 provinces of Zimbabwe. The programmes are complementing the school curriculum with life skills and entrepreneurship in which students learn important 21stcentury skills.
Brenda Zingondo, 16- years old, is benefitting from the Aflatoun programme at Mafararikwa High School. Her family is a member of the Johanne Marange Apostolic sect. The church is famous for legalising child marriages and polygamy. After Brenda participated in the Aflateen training, discussing topics such as her rights and responsibilities, she realised she has the right to be protected as a child.
„After the training I realised that I have rights to be protected as a child. Most of the girls in my church are married before eighteen years, due to lack of information. Such marriages affect their education, health and childhood. I want to finish my school and go to university and become a dentist.“
Moreover, Brenda also started saving money and opened a savings account. She has managed to save 5.00 dollars and is planning to use the money for her examination fees in the future.
For more information about Junior Achievement Zimbabwe (JAZ), click here. To learn more about Aflatoun’s global social and financial education movement and how you can join us, click here.