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Title
No Means No: lessons learned implementing the sexual violence prevention curriculum for girls aged 10-14 years in Matabeleland North Province, Zimbabwe
Presenter
Peace Ntini
Authors
P. Ntini1, L. Sibanda1, R. Mashapa1, G. Gonese2, T. Mharadze3, J. Mandisarisa4, P. Mungwari5, F. Mpofu1, R. Makuyana1, M. Ndlovu1, M. Mutseta6, G. Ncube7, V. Bertman8, L. Krumpholz9, A. Korn10, K.K. Thomson11, B. Makunike12, S. Wiktor11
Institutions
1Zim-TTECH, DREAMS, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, 2Zim-TTECH, DREAMS, Harare, Zimbabwe, 3Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harare, Zimbabwe, 4Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Harare, Zimbabwe, 5No Means No Worldwide, NMN, Johannesburg, South Africa, 6Ministry of Health and Child Care, DREAMS and KP, Harare, Zimbabwe, 7National AIDS Council, DREAMS, Harare, Zimbabwe, 8International Training and Education Center for Health (I-TECH) University of Washington, Washington, United States, 9No Means No World wide, San Francisco, United States, 10International Training and Education Center for Health (I-TECH) University of Washington, Washington DC, Zimbabwe, 11International Training and Education Center for Health (I-TECH) University of Washington, Washington DC, United States, 12Zim-TTECH, Harare, Zimbabwe

BACKGROUND: Adolescent girls (AG) aged 10-14 years are disproportionally affected by sexual violence compared to their male counterparts, a risk factor for acquiring HIV. As part of the determined resilient empowered AIDS-free mentored safe (DREAMS) program in Matabeleland North Province, Zim-TTECH delivers a sexual violence prevention curriculum for AG.
DESCRIPTION: The “No Means No” (NMN) curriculum equips AG with mental, verbal, and physical skills to prevent sexual assault and escape potential perpetrators. The curriculum employs participatory methods that include demonstrations and practice of self-defense skills. From October 2020 to October 2023 NMN was implemented in school and community settings in the four DREAMS districts in Matabeleland North. The program certified 60 Instructors selected from the communities where NMN was implemented, these were supported and supervised by 12 lead trainers. During this program, 17,360 enrolled AGs were trained in the NMN curriculum by certified instructors.
LESSONS LEARNED: 17,360 AG (69% of DREAMS enrolled AG) completed NMN sessions, and AGs readily accepted NMN sessions as part of ongoing DREAMS activities. The adaptation of the curriculum to the Zimbabwean context included revising language to reflect local terms and language. School-based delivery supported attendance in after-class sessions while continuous monitoring and support were key to ensure standardization and fidelity in implementation. Stakeholders noted the relevance of NMN to older girls while caregivers and boys outcried for a similar program for boys who felt left out. NMN sessions created a safe and acceptable platform for AG to disclose experiencing violence; 17 AG reported experiences of being sexually violated. Instructors immediately linked survivors to clinical and social protection services.
CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to expand the delivery of sexual prevention sessions to older AGYW as well as boys for a broader impact. Further research is needed to understand how to customize NMN sessions for Zimbabwe. Instructors need thorough training in first-line GBV response and close collaboration with government line ministries to ensure timely response to GBV cases.