30/01/2025
OPEN PROPOSAL TO SIR WICKNELL CHIVAYO
Date: 30 January 2025
Greetings Sir Wicknell
Request for Funding: Empowering Women Living with HIV Community.
Introduction
My name is Tendayi Westerhof and I am the National Director of the Pan African Positive Women’s Coalition-Zimbabwe, also known as PAPWC-ZIM. PAPWC-ZIM is a national network of women living with HIV and a women-led organization mitigating the unique needs of women. and adolescent girls living with HIV in our diversity. The organization is a registered private voluntary organization in Zimbabwe PVO NO. 25/18
On behalf of the organization, we are seeking funding to support the community of women living with HIV in Zimbabwe mainly in Mashonaland West Province and at national level. We are requesting for both financial and technical assistance from you to enable us to carry out our activities this year. Our work depends entirely on donor funding. The organization is currently not funded and we don’t have a project vehicle or programmes vehicles to ease movement in the various communities we work in across Zimbabwe. The lack of funding is affecting women living with HIV hence we humbly seek your assistance as we are contributing to national development in terms of fighting pandemics and HIV and AIDS.
OUR GOAL
Our goal is to see an empowered community where women living with HIV in our diversity, adolescent girls and their families are conscious of their sexual and reproductive health and rights and have access to comprehensive health services. We are creating demand and access to use of female controlled HIV prevention strategies among young women; address gender based violence, sexual violence, early child marriage that is associated with the risk of HIV infection and unwanted pregnancy; to raise awareness and demand for Elimination-of-mother-to child transmission of HIV, scaling up universal access to treatment for women and girls living with HIV; to eradicated stigma and discrimination associated with an HIV positive status for women and girls and ensure their participation in leadership roles.
OUR FOCUS
PAPWC-ZIM is focusing on creating a platform for women living with HIV to build their capacity in the HIV and AIDS response, gender, sexual reproductive health and rights, lobby advocacy for policy, inclusion and to amplify their voices through meaningful involvement in leadership on matters that concern them and their families. Establishing support groups and community-based organizations of women and adolescent girls living with HIV where they do not exist and strengthen the capacity of those already in existence.
OUR STRATEGY
The PAPWC-ZIM’s strategy seek to engage and contribute towards achieving both national and global goals and priorities of four Strategic pillars, Treatment, EMTCT, Gender Equality, Governance and Leadership, PAPWC-ZIM is elevating the discourse on treatment access to incorporate a focus on positive health outcomes for women living with HIV and adolescent girls and the necessary linkages that must be made in particular with effectively managing reproductive cancers and expanding sexual and reproductive health and rights of HIV positive women; Elimination-of-mother-to-child-transmission-of-HIV with a focus to Expand mother-to-mother support programs to ensure all women living with HIV have access to a) comprehensive services that stop infection among our children and b) Keep HIV positive women alive; Under Gender Equality the organization focuses on eliminating stigma and discrimination directed towards women living with HIV in their homes, within communities and within the health care system and removing punitive laws that inadvertently target women in key population groups and women living with HIV. We implement and promote economic empowerment programs for women and girls.
Vision
A Zimbabwe where empowered HIV positive women in our diversity and adolescent girls work together with other stakeholders towards achieving a comprehensive health agenda.
Mission
Our mission is to promote, employ and apply rights¬‐based approaches and partnerships that contribute to the improvement of the health, productivity and quality of life of women and adolescent girls living with HIV in Zimbabwe.
Background
Women living with HIV face numerous challenges, including stigma, discrimination, and limited access to healthcare and social services. Our community aims to address these challenges by providing a comprehensive range of services, including:
1. Peer support groups: Led by trained facilitators, these groups provide a safe space for women to share their experiences, receive emotional support, and develop coping strategies.
2. Healthcare and wellness services: We offer access to medical care, counselling, and wellness programs to support the physical and emotional health of our members.
3. Economic empowerment: Our economic empowerment programs provide training, mentorship, and access to resources to support women in starting their own businesses or gaining employment.
4. Advocacy and education: We advocate for the rights of women living with HIV and provide education and awareness-raising programs to combat stigma and promote understanding.
Objectives
Our objectives for this funding request are:
1. To establish a comprehensive support system for women living with HIV in Sanyati District and at national level.
2. To provide access to healthcare, wellness, and economic empowerment services for our members.
3. To promote advocacy and education to combat stigma and promote understanding.
4. To honour women living openly with HIV who are making a difference in their communities in the fight against HIV and AIDS at an annual gala during the World AIDS Day commemorations week in December 2025.
Budget For 2025 and for 12 months
We are requesting $100 000 united states dollars to support the following activities:
1. Staffing and logistical support $10 000
2. Programs and services: $50 000
3. Advocacy and education: $40 000
Impact
Our project will have a significant impact on the lives of HIV-positive women in Sanyati District and at national lelvel. By providing a comprehensive support system, we will:
1. Improve the physical and emotional health of our members.
2. Enhance the economic empowerment of our members.
3. Promote advocacy and education to combat stigma and promote understanding.
Conclusion
We believe that our project will make a significant difference in the lives of women living with HIV women in Sanyati District and at national level. We are grateful for your consideration of our funding request and look forward to the opportunity to partner with you.
I am at your disposal to discuss with you the finer details of our work.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Tendayi Westerhof
National Director
PAPWC-ZIM
Primary Email: [email protected] Secondary Email: papwczgmail.com
Telephone: +263 774 214 533
