INSIDE A WHITE TENT IN RURAL ZIMBABWE, ABOUT TWO DOZEN GIRLS ARE SITTING ON MATTRESSES, PREPARING TO POUR THEIR HEARTS OUT.

THE GIRLS' HANGOUT IS A REVIVAL OF NHANGA, THE LOCAL TERM FOR “GIRLS’ BEDROOM,” A TRADITIONAL SPACE USED TO PREPARE ADOLESCENT GIRLS FOR MARRIAGE.

WHAT WAS ONCE A PLACE WHERE GIRLS WERE TAUGHT OBEDIENCE, IS NOW BEING USED TO TEACH THEM HOW TO EMPOWER THEMSELVES.

THEY’RE FOCUSED ON THEIR FUTURE AND LEARNING PRACTICAL SKILLS.

SOUNDBITE (Shona) Anita Razo, participant:

“Peer to peer mentoring is important because a girl my age is free to open up to me unlike sharing their challenges or problems with elderly people who can be judgmental or even end up telling the whole community. this is a safe space, every girl feels equal and free.”

SOUNDBITE (English) Nokutenda Magama, Programmes officer at Rozaria Memorial Trust:

“Nhanga, it’s a sacred place. This is where opportunities, this is where lawyers are groomed. Removing shoes is a way of show we are all equal."

ACROSS RURAL ZIMBABWE, GIRLS ARE NOW REINVENTING THE CENTURIES-OLD PRACTICE AS A WAY OF RESISTING CHILD MARRIAGE.

SOUNDBITE (English) Enet Tini, teacher and girls mentor:

“The gap that that we have is lying with the adults, but the girls now have an understanding of how important it is to promote and protect themselves from teenage pregnancies and child marriages because they are actually seeing their colleagues and peers who are suffering after they have experienced child marriage.”

THE INITIATIVE COMES AGAINST A WORRYING TREND. ONE IN THREE GIRLS IN ZIMBABWE MARRIES BEFORE 18, ACCORDING TO THE UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND.

AND WHILE MANY AFRICAN COUNTRIES HAVE OUTLAWED CHILD MARRIAGE, POVERTY, LETHARGIC ENFORCEMENT AND CULTURAL CUSTOMS KEEP IT ALIVE.

THE DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT U.N. WOMEN CALLED CHILD MARRIAGE “ESSENTIALLY RAPE AND SEXUAL EXPLOITATION.”

SOUNDBITE (English) Nyaradzai Gumbonzvanda, UN Women Deputy Executive Director:

“Laws are important, but what is critically essential to reach to the girls themselves, to do the shift in the social norms in our communities.”

A GLOBAL PROBLEM, SLOWLY BEING TACKLED WITH LOCAL SOLUTIONS: A MOVEMENT OF YOUNG WOMEN TURNING TRADITION ON ITS HEAD.