It worked for me

zita remadzimai ngarikudzwe, rana baba zvishomanao

(may the name of the woman be uplifted, but the fathers’ only a little bit)

Zimbabwe Homeless People Federation

Joyline* is 30 years old. She looks younger, but speaks older. She has been a member of the Zimbabwe Homeless People Federation (ZIHOPFE) for a couple of years now. She is part of the Youth Federation.

“Some people think the Federation is the answer to all your problems, but you’re the one that needs to step up,” she says.

She remembers the first meetings, held at the Community Resource Center close to her house, being awkward and many young people not continuing the process. She thinks some of them might have had different expectations about getting involved in the Federation. She herself, found a connection.

“So, it worked for me” she shares.

Community Resource Center  in Crowborough. Harare, Zimbabwe. July 2019. Photo credit: Daniela Beltrame

Community Resource Center in Crowborough. Harare, Zimbabwe. July 2019. Photo credit: Daniela Beltrame


She immediately adds how she also got to fly.

The horizontal learning exchange that Joyline flew to in Cape Town was a Know Your City Conference organized by Slum Dwellers International (SDI). It brought together urban poor Federations from different countries to discuss issues around data collection and habitat conditions, among others.

Slum/Shack Dwellers International (SDI) Model of Networked Federations of the Urban & Rural Poor Figure by Daniela Beltrame

Slum/Shack Dwellers International (SDI) Model of Networked Federations of the Urban & Rural Poor Figure by Daniela Beltrame

She was so excited that she attended despite being eight months pregnant with Daniela, her youngest child.

“I am not gonna let this one go.” She told herself

To prepare for her presentation, she got help from the other youths.

“We compiled something for me to present.” She says “I was still learning.”

She remembers the conference brought together people from all over Africa, she felt lucky to hear them talk. Being in such a diverse environment for her was beautiful. She remembers one story in particular, from Kenya or Ghana, she is not quite sure. A man told how slum dwellers back where he was from sometimes used plastic bags for toilets.

“Can you imagine?” she asks me, “they throw the bag away like so… it can land anywhere!”

Interview with Joyline. Crowborough. Harare, Zimbabwe. January 2020. Photo credit: Artwell Nyirenda

Interview with Joyline. Crowborough. Harare, Zimbabwe. January 2020. Photo credit: Artwell Nyirenda

We both share a laugh, but she becomes serious all of a sudden.

“I’ve got tap water, sanitation… but there are other areas in Harare where they don’t even have the most basic things. The conference opened my eyes somehow.”

*Some names may have been changed



- - -

For more on Slum Dwellers International follow this link

For more on the Zimbabwe Homeless People’s Federation follow this link

Previous
Previous

Are Blue and Green Different?

Next
Next

Thoughts: on the ambiguities of Salad