Hand in Hand Zimbabwe has embarked on strengthening women self-help projects in Chikomba district, which among other things seek to end violence against women by economically empowering them.

Addressing participants recently at the prize giving of two women entrepreneurial groups in  ward 23, guest speaker and Chikomba Rural District Council Assistant district development coordinator, Monica Chamboko said the projects bankrolled by Hand in Hand Zimbabwe have helped to economically empower women and reduce cases of domestic violence in the district.

“The coming in of Hand in Hand has helped reduce cases of gender based violence in the district,” she said.

“Women have been economically empowered to the extent that they also bring food to the table and this has helped reduce violence in homes.”

Two groups Chiedza and Shingai undertaking poultry projects competed and came first and second respectively under the Hand in Hand Market Linkages Project (MLP).

The three-year project (Market Linkages Project) seeks to reinforce access to markets and finance for entrepreneurs supported by the organisation.

There are eight groups in Chikomba district supported by Hand in Hand under the MLP project.