This edition of the Women & Youth Voices Newsletter celebrates the women and youth that we work with through our various programs. As we reflect on the 2023, with a focus on the elections held in August 2023 in Zimbabwe, it is clear that women and youth played a critical role in shaping the outcome.
Through the Women and Youth Inclusion for Equality (WYI4E) project, implemented by Hivos and its partners – Women Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ), Women’s Institute for Leadership Development (WILD), Youth Empowerment and Transformation Trust (YETT), Gender Links, General Agriculture and Plantation Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe (Gapwuz) and Zimbabwe Gender Commission – we have seen firsthand the power of empowering marginalized communities to participate fully in democratic processes.
Through this newsletter, we aim to showcase the challenges, inspiration, successes from different women during the elections. We also take a look at work being done post-election period and how we are moving and forging new paths. We urge everyone to embrace the power of unity, inclusivity, and solidarity as we work towards a future where all voices are heard, all aspirations are nurtured, and all barriers are dismantled. We also feature material from our partners in the Women’s Voices Matter and Women and Youth Leadership and Participation projects. These include the Institute of Young Women’s Development (IYWD) and Government of Zimbabwe. Our projects are funded by the European Union in Zimbabwe and the Embassy of Ireland in Pretoria. Your comments and suggestions on the stories featured in this edition will be greatly appreciated.
