Author

Girl Grandeur Zimbabwe

Girl Grandeur Zimbabwe was founded in 2013 as a social club for girls and women in hopes that it would address the lack of an informal club for women to just come together and have fun and build friendships. This club was to help women to share their experiences and advise each other on their respective grievances.

News & Updates

#16Days Of Activism Against Gender Based Violence

by Girl Grandeur Zimbabwe
written by Girl Grandeur Zimbabwe

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign originating from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991. Participants chose the dates, November 25, International Day Against Violence Against Women and December 10, International Human Rights Day, in order to symbolically link violence against women and human rights and to emphasize that such violence is a violation of human rights.

This 16-day period also highlights other significant dates including November 29, International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, December 1, World AIDS Day, and December 6, which marks the Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre.

The 16 Days Campaign has been used as an organizing strategy by individuals and groups around the world to call for the elimination of all forms of violence against women by:

* raising awareness about gender-based violence as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international levels
* strengthening local work around violence against women
* establishing a clear link between local and international work to end violence against women
* providing a forum in which organizers can develop and share new and effective strategies
* demonstrating the solidarity of women around the world organizing against violence against women
* creating tools to pressure governments to implement promises made to eliminate violence against women

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign continues the theme of “From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Let’s Challenge Militarism and End Violence Against Women!” in 2013.

Girl Grandeur Byo in conjunction with NYDT Zimbabwe is looking for 16 survivor stories to flight in support of the cause. Please email them to girlgrandeurzw@gmail.com

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
FeaturedHealth & Fitness

My Cervical Cancer Screening Experience

by Girl Grandeur Zimbabwe
written by Girl Grandeur Zimbabwe

In early 2014 I was lucky to be part of a group of female journalists from all over Africa invited to witness and experience the work done at New Start Centers across Zimbabwe on cervical cancer screening. Cervical cancer has been named one of the most common killers among women today and yet it is also one of the most curable if detected early.

Zimbabwe embarked on a series of screening campaigns which unfortunately has been overwhelming for health practitioners who have to work with limited resources and citizens who have to be on a waiting list for weeks and at times months to be called for a screening procedure.

So for me it was delighting to be able to bypass the waiting list and be able to undergo this life saving procedure so as to encourage other ladies to get it done as well. First I went for an HIV test after which I went into a small room with a large TV monitor and a few computers and complicated looking machines. A lady in white who was behind the computer asked me to remove my trousers and to lie facing upwards on the bed with my legs apart.

I had heard all sorts of rumours about how your uterus is sucked out of you and put on a table and then examined. I was expecting an unpleasant feeling while lying there with my legs apart. I could even hear the lady grab some metal sounding tools from a bucket with a clear liquid in it. As I tilted my head slightly to the side to see what it was I spotted a curved medium sized metal object, half the palm of my hand in width and about 15-20 centimeters long. I was still wondering where she planned to put that thing when I felt a cold movement in my vagina and like something making its way in. It felt like I was being opened up and some air was rushing into my privates. Later the monitor was alive with pictures of the inner lining of my uterus in full view on the screen. It was dark pinkish in colourand shiny. The lady asked me to compare what I was seeing on the monitor to what was on pictures around the examination room to get my result. I told her it looked like there were no signs of cancer cells and she agreed. I asked her why then the skin looked so dark almost red and she said it is because I had had a baby before and was on contraceptives and that is how the womb would react to such experiences.

For the next couple of hours, I kept trying to squeeze my legs together because it still felt like the metal object was still up there somewhere. I was however glad that at least for the next 12 months had been given the nod of good health.

0 comment
3 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Finance

10 Financial Goals For Every Woman Who Wants To Attain Financial Freedom

by Girl Grandeur Zimbabwe
written by Girl Grandeur Zimbabwe

I know that when the year began, most us wrote Resolutions for 2018 which probably included financial goals. Some of us may be drowning in debt and I know for a fact that we all dream of financial freedom but we might not know how to get there. You may have been trying but failing to attain financial freedom over the years or you might have got the hang of how to attain financial freedom and you are probably trying to work towards it. I want to share with you 10 financial goals you can take on to attain financial freedom and these include;

  1. Develop a monthly budgeting habit

The first step is to have a financial budget. This will act as a guide as you will know how much you earn or make in a month. The budget will then help you on how you can spend and save your money. Draft a new budget every month as expenses may vary.Most importantly try and not do impulse buying. Stick to your budget.

  1. Pay off all your debts

If you have debt, it is best to knock it off as fast as possible because Debt is the enemy of WEALTH!! After paying off your debt, you may then get on with the business of increasing your net worth and creating financial freedom.

  1. Cut your expenses ruthlessly

We all want to lead an extravagant life, if you want financial freedom, you will have to cut your expenses as often as you can and save your hard earned cash. Determine your needs from your wants and start cutting down from there.

For example, if you are buying lunch every day, start thinking of bringing packed lunch to work. If you are buying lunch worth $5/ day that adds up to $25/ week and $100/ month on lunch. If you carry packed lunch you can save up to 50% of what you were using for your lunch and save the other $50.

  1. Earn Extra Income

Having financial goals means always looking for ways to supplement your income and earning extra income. This will make you less vulnerable if say for instance, you lose your job. There are many things to consider, you can be a part time consultant in your line of work, eg if you are an accountant, you can balance books for clients and you can earn extra cash. Or open a boutique or a grocery shop or sell Avon, Tupperware or Avroy Shlain products.

  1. Start an emergency fund

Save 10-20% of what you make a month, this will improve your finances significantly.This step is critical because it will help you stay out of debt in the event of unexpected expenses.

  1. Automate savings, billings and other expenses.

Automating saves you lots of time. This tweak to your finances will help relieve stress about managing finances. Find out from your bank if this is possible. Automate your savings account, life cover, retirement account, medical aid, funeral cover, water bill. It will save you lots of time and you can use your time to make more money.

  1. Get life cover

We are not going to live forever, it is key to then get life cover so that your family will be taken care of if you die. Also whilst you are still alive, you can use your life cover to acquire assets as you can use it as collateral.

  1. Get retirement cover or start a retirement account

At some point of your life, you will want to retire and you will want to retire rich. Banking on the government to take care of you is not really good strategy. Acquire assets that will also enable you to enjoy your retirement or save money so that you can retire and lead a comfortable life.

  1. Know your net worth

Knowing your net worth can help motivate you to keep doing the right thing with your finances. There are many apps but my favourite one is Personal Capital. Knowing your net worth will help you to know what type of lifestyle you can afford.

  1. Read finance books

Knowledge is and will always be POWER!!! Knowledge will empower you and enable you to make smarter money decisions for you and your family.

Together we can change our finances ladies. Just take one step at a time.

Xoxo

PRLadyBoss

Email: imeldaprconsultancy@gmail.com

Facebook: Power PR Communications

Twitter: @PowerPRComm

Blog: www.wordpress/powerprcommunications.wordpress.com

0 comment
2 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Finance

6 Things To Do When Your Finances Are In A Mess!!

by Girl Grandeur Zimbabwe
written by Girl Grandeur Zimbabwe

We have all gone through a difficult patch in our lives and one of the things are usually let go is our finances. The first step is to take on your debt head on. The 6 things to do if you want to get your finances in check are;

  1. Get a clear picture of your current situation

This will help you assess how bad your situation is so that you know where you stand. The next step since you will be  have the numbers, is then to find out you your biggest spending errors and which debts need to be paid first and which expenses you should cut down on.

  1. Set specific goals with deadlines

Come up with clear and concise goals and set deadlines for your goals. This will encourage you to meet targets and achieve your goals. For example say you owe $2000 but you earn $500/ month and you have other expenses.

You can propose to pay off your debt in $50 instalments for 40 months or in $100 instalments for 20 months. It will also be ideal to consider another stream of income so that you can earn more money and pay off debts faster.

  1. Come up with a budget

Budgeting will enable you to keep track of your spending and make sure you live within your means. This will make you not to overspend since you will be knowing how much you earn and what your expenses and perhaps you might consider downscaling. Say for example, if you are renting an apartment for $500 you can downscale and get an apartment for say $250 and the other $250, you can cover other expenses, like fuel, groceries and utilities.

  1. Keep track of successes and failure

It would be ideal to get a financial journal where you can enter all your expenses for the month, so that you stay on track. Only then can you see your progress. Any steps forward no matter how big or small are worth celebrating.

  1. Organise and declutter the rest of your life

It may not be your financial life that’s a mess, your social life may also be a mess. Let go of some people who are not making you grow, like they say if you sit in a room with 10 fools you are likely to be the 11th.However if you are to sit with 10 millionaires, you are likely to be the 11th and trust me the conversation will be different.

Also declutter your house as well, stop being a hoarder and throw away all the useless things. A decluttered and unorganised house makes it difficult to concentrate on anything.

  1. Be flexible and adjust

If you consistently cannot attain your goals, readjust them. You have to stay motivated and excited about your progress. Falling too far behind may trigger you to give up. It is better to log and evaluate your failure and adjust figures.

You are not alone in this journey, form support groups with your friends for accountability. Find a financial mentor or advisor and be one for someone else. It will make this whole process easier and it will make it feel really good about yourself.

Xoxo

PR Lady Boss

Email: imeldaprconsultancy@gmail.com

Facebook: Power PR Communications

Twitter: @PowerPRComm

Blog: www.wordpress/powerprcommunications.wordpress.com

0 comment
1 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Latest News

#SheNspiration: We’re teaching girls and women how to blog!

by Girl Grandeur Zimbabwe
written by Girl Grandeur Zimbabwe

SheNspiration is a project that has set out to impart digital storytelling skills to girls and women in Zimbabwe. These skills will be imparted through workshops, trainings, meetups and digitally through social media and downloadable resources.

In addition to this, an ebook for content creation will be produced and available for free download on the #SheNspiration microsite. Girl Grandeur Zimbabwe has also partnered with a digital publication for a special edition of the Kwantuthu Arts magazine which will cater specifically to female creative entrepreneurs.

“There aren’t enough spaces in Zimbabwe that capacitate creative female entrepreneurs and we want to fill that gap. We want women to learn not only from us but also from each other. This will create a supportive network that will become the pillar of a women-led media industry,” said Thembelihle Terry-Lynne Zulu the founder of Girl Grandeur Zimbabwe .

The #SheNspiration project is a response to the digital gender gap in the new media landscape. Digital storytelling can be a hobby or an occupation. The media industry needs more female voices and more stories about women. These digital skills are an investment in the story of the woman.

“I’ve been blogging for over 5 years and the numerous opportunities that this has opened for me are without number. I’d like to see more women taking up digital storytelling and owning their narratives,” said Thembelihle .

The project’s key activities will include:
• Train 240 girls in 8 high schools (Bulawayo and Harare)
• Train 8 teachers to run the high school media clubs
• Teach 60 women how to blog from scratch 
• Draft ebook for female digital storytellers 
• Compile workbook for all the bloggers trained
• Train 120 young women in Universities how to blog ( 4 Universities)
• 4 content creator meetups (Harare and Bulawayo)

This project is funded by the Equal Digital Skills Fund. One of the key goals of the EQUALS Digital Skills Fund is to facilitate appropriate digital skills training for up to 10,000 women and girls which includes the use of technology for social change and entrepreneurship. In addition, the initiative supports female role models and internet users within communities, social movements and workplaces to lead the next generation of women and girls in technology.

6 comments
2 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Finance

Budgeting Effectively

by Girl Grandeur Zimbabwe
written by Girl Grandeur Zimbabwe

Budget tips every woman can consider this October.

If you want to attain financial freedom it is crucial to know basic financial management principles. You have to draw up a budget so that you know where your money is going as this will make it easy to keep track of your spending. Though budgeting and tracking your spending can feel a bit like having strict parents, it is supposed to give you freedom as you can tailor your spending practices and ensure that you manage your money in line with your financial goals. Below are % that you can apply when you want budget and keep track of your hard earned money.

Budget percentages to consider

Giving 10%

Savings 10%

Housing 25%

Food 15%

Insurance 10%

Transportation 15%

Utilities 10%

Recreation 5%

The first two categories which are giving and savings are key, saving is very important if you want to attain financial freedom and having savings gives you a cushion for a rainy day.Then essentials like housing, food, utilities should also be budgeted for because, you need a place to live in, utilities, transport to work as well as food.

Insurance also should be budgeted for be it home insurance, life cover, funeral cover, motor insurance, hospital cover, all these should be paid for as they will make sure that you don’t spend your savings if anything is to happen to you or your possessions. Recreation is also important to budget for so that you know how much exactly you can spend on entertainment.

If you track your spending without first setting a goal for each category, you can easily spend more than you would like to in one or several categories. With a pre-set budget, you have a number to aim for that will help ensure you making efforts to control spending so that you have more money to put toward your financial goals, whether those goals be saving money for a house, paying off debt, or working toward financial freedom.

Tip:

Opt for using cash than credit cards as with cash you can use a cash jar or cash envelope system. By using a cash envelope system for expenses such as groceries, entertainment, meals out and other flexible spending categories, you can be sure you’re not spending over the allocated amount in your budget because you simply commit to using only the money in the envelope for those expenses. Once the money is gone, you’re finished spending in that category for the month.

Also, twerk your budget on a regular basis to accommodate for expenses like car insurance or school fees which are seasonal expenses. If your budget permits, have an emergency fund as well that will be part of your budget, you can cut down percentages of other categories to accommodate having an emergency fund.

Go ahead and apply these budget tips this October as a trial run and find out if this can work for you.

Xoxo PRLadyBoss

Imelda Duduzile Moyo

Email: imeldaprconsultancy@gmail.com

0 comment
2 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Latest News

Hello Girls, I’m the Editor

by Girl Grandeur Zimbabwe
written by Girl Grandeur Zimbabwe

My name is Loraine Sibanda and I am a Publicist , Blogger and Podcaster but most importantly the hat I am privileged to wear every single day of my life is the hat of an Entrepreneur. For as long as I can remember I had a great passion for writing , magazines and anything that allowed me to serve. Like an actor on a grand stage comes alive when telling a story I come alive when I serve others around me and invest or uplift mainly young women,children and our youth. It is an honour to join Girl Grandeur as the Editor of Chief.

Our initiative is about “informing policymakers about girls’ needs locally and nationally. The organization educates the media about critical issues facing girls. The founders were concerned about the unique issues that were plaguing young girls in this digital era and they realized that these were different from the conventional issues that are addressed by NGOs and women’s organisations. They felt that young girls needed a recreational space that would be fun and beneficial at the same time”. 

While that is our biggest and primary goal is it also our intention to educate, share, learn and also connect young women, organisations who are keen to collaborate with on this journey with us. You can expect a lot of fun, engaging, relevant and awesome changes on our site as well as our blog that are all geared at ensuring that we create content that will stimulate conversations in the right space with the right perspective but more importantly conversations that will lead to change. It is that TIME!!

Thank you to all those that have been a part of the Editorial team, social media family, partners and Sponsors from the inception of the programme to date. We welcome our new editorial family and anyone out there who supports our vision. My team and I look forward to a great year ahead and we represent , shed light and celebrate the young african woman.

 

Regards

Loraine Sibanda

Editor in Chief

Girl Grandeur

0 comment
1 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts