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PRODID:-//The Brave Girl Initiative - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN
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X-WR-CALNAME:The Brave Girl Initiative
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://thebravegirlinitiative.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for The Brave Girl Initiative
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BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:Africa/Johannesburg
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TZOFFSETFROM:+0200
TZOFFSETTO:+0200
TZNAME:SAST
DTSTART:20220101T000000
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20250830T090000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20250830T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T234000
CREATED:20250721T111542Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250721T111630Z
UID:2780-1756544400-1756573200@thebravegirlinitiative.org
SUMMARY:Mawelawela Juvenile Detention Center Visit
DESCRIPTION:We are honoured to partner with Descent Ministries for a meaningful outreach at the Mawelawela Juvenile Detention Center\, where we will be engaging with young girls who are currently in custody.  Our mission is to bring hope\, encouragement\, and restoration to girls who need to be reminded that their story is not over. \nThrough compassion\, faith\, and intentional connection\, we aim to speak life\, identity\, and purpose into young hearts that are often overlooked or forgotten. This visit is not about judgment\, but about showing love that restores and pointing to the God who still writes beautiful endings from broken chapters.
URL:https://thebravegirlinitiative.org/event/mawelawela-juvenile-detention-center-visit/
LOCATION:Mawelawela Juvenile Detention Center\, Mawelawela\, Swaziland
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20250809T090000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20250809T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T234000
CREATED:20250721T110145Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250812T113543Z
UID:2775-1754730000-1754758800@thebravegirlinitiative.org
SUMMARY:Malindza Women's Health Talk
DESCRIPTION:The Malindza Health Talk is aimed at educating and empowering girls in the Malindza community through open and honest conversations about health\, hygiene\, self-worth\, and personal development.  We recognize\, through the leadership of that community that many girls grow up without access to vital health information. This meeting will provide a safe space to learn about topics they may have never been taught or know\, ranging from reproductive health\, mental wellness\, body respect\, and making right life choices. \nLed by our amazing team\, this event is designed to break the silence around taboo topics\, challenge harmful myths\, and encourage confidence\, dignity\, and self-care. The goal is not just to inform\, but to equip these young women with the tools they need to make positive\, empowered decisions in their lives and also to help these girls see their value\, understand their bodies\, and dream of a future shaped by knowledge and not fear. \n 
URL:https://thebravegirlinitiative.org/event/malindza-womens-health-talk/
LOCATION:Malindza Community Hall\, Swaziland
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20250730T090000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20250730T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T234000
CREATED:20250721T105104Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250731T121452Z
UID:2771-1753866000-1753894800@thebravegirlinitiative.org
SUMMARY:Siteki Human Trafficking Awareness Walk
DESCRIPTION:I am not for sale \nJoin us in the heart of Siteki Town as we take a bold stand against one of the most devastating crimes of our time\, . This walk is more than just a public event; it is a declaration of solidarity\, compassion\, and justice. \nWe walk to support the courageous individuals and organizations working tirelessly to rescue and protect our young girls and boys. We walk to raise awareness about a crime that is robbing our girls of their childhood\, dignity\, and future. And we walk to let traffickers know: our silence is broken\, and our eyes are open. \nAs we move through the streets of Siteki\, we carry with us the stories of those who cannot speak\, the cries of those who are hidden\, and the hope that together\, we can end this evil. Let this walk be a voice for the voiceless and a step toward freedom for every girl\, every woman\, and every life affected by trafficking. \n 
URL:https://thebravegirlinitiative.org/event/siteki-human-trafficking-walk/
LOCATION:Siteki\, Swaziland
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20241015
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20241017
DTSTAMP:20260423T234000
CREATED:20241022T135028Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241022T135327Z
UID:2451-1728950400-1729123199@thebravegirlinitiative.org
SUMMARY:Ubumbano Solidarity Hub
DESCRIPTION:As the Brave girl initiative we recently received an invitation to attend the ACT Ubumbano Solidarity Hub. It is a time to connect and discuss social issues affecting those that we work for and serve in our countries and communities. It is a two gathering that is more than just a time to speak but a time to express ourselves and find out ways to move forward for change.\nAs the Brave girl initiative we have gathered a new tool for dealing with Gender based violence and sexual abuse of our girls and we are and girls excited to implement it.
URL:https://thebravegirlinitiative.org/event/ubumbano-solidarity-hub/
LOCATION:Garden Court Hotel Johannesburg\, Johannesburg\, Gauteng\, South Africa
CATEGORIES:gender based violence
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20240309T100000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20240309T130000
DTSTAMP:20260423T234000
CREATED:20240226T101221Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240226T101829Z
UID:2405-1709978400-1709989200@thebravegirlinitiative.org
SUMMARY:Vision Board Party Siceni
DESCRIPTION:A chance for our girls to align their thoughts\, emotions and actions towards their goals\, through visualization and positive reineforcement. This vision board party will help clarify their intentions\, foster focus\, and cultivate a mind of possibilities.
URL:https://thebravegirlinitiative.org/event/vision-board-party-siceni/
LOCATION:Gogo Community Center\, Sinceni\, Siphofaneni\, Lubombo\, M221\, Swaziland
CATEGORIES:brave girls,self worth
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20240301T140000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20240301T160000
DTSTAMP:20260423T234000
CREATED:20240226T100858Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240529T091101Z
UID:2402-1709301600-1709308800@thebravegirlinitiative.org
SUMMARY:Vision Board Party
DESCRIPTION:No Party like a Vision Board Party  \nInvesting in young people is one of the effective ways the world can utilize in advocating for a better future. “We have not inherited the land from our parents\, we are borrowing it from our children” these is such a beautiful sentiment insinuating that all children should be able have access to all that is needed for them to develop holistically. \nIn the kingdom of Eswatini every child has access to Free Primary Education\, which selectively improves just the literacy development of a child. This is seen more in the remote areas of the kingdom which leads to children not looking past their communities because it is all they have ever known. After taking note of these\, The Brave Girl Initiative saw the need to create activities that will help introduce a child to a world filled with limitless opportunities\, a world where you can be whatever you set your mind on. Through the beautiful girl/boy child afterschool program fully functioning at the community of Othandweni\, we had planned to achieve this goal with over 30 boys and girls. Prepping up the loud gang\, discussion and illustrations were done to inculcate the culture of achieving your dreams no matter the common barriers which normally are; family background\, geographical location\, educational background and race. The young teenagers now saw beyond their current state\, they saw a world filled with limitless opportunities and they vowed to achieve it all. \nSince talking and discussing was one thing\, now words were to be put into action so Vision Board parties were organized. On this particular fun Friday\, the girls had their own vision board party\, can I just say that these young girls have an eye only for the finest things in life and I am here for it all. Before beginning the activity\, founder Patience explained the importance of this activity; which is to enhance the desire inside of you to become something great. Old magazines donated by some very good friends made the activity a reality for this young girls. Laughter and joy filled the care point as girls were socializing and creating a narrative for the future they wish for themselves. Fortunate Fakudze\, a 15 year old brave girl was so specific that her dream is to become an educator in the city of Cape Town\, I have no doubt whatsoever that she will be that and even more. The common goal for all the girls was that they wanted to be independent and accomplish life on their own terms. \nWe plan and work hard but the Lord is the one who ensures it all comes to pass\, it was mandatory for all of our brave girls to know that. One by one we consulted the girls\, giving them advice on obtaining the future they imagine having. The best part of the whole event was when each girl explained the links between the pictures and details they pasted\, the dedication to achieve their dreams so they could build their parents beautiful houses is one of most precious things I have ever heard. Nonzunzo Nhlabatsi currently living with her grandparents\, really is a force the world needs right now as she wants to be a professional medical doctor and also a dancer which proves how diverse and broad her mind had become once she had the information right in front her. She realized she can be more than just one thing\, she doesn’t have to conform to just one dream which is really mind blowing. \nPraying for the brave girls is another strategy TBGI uses as an instrument for an even brighter future\, founder Patience and Afterschool program coordinator Nokwanda laid hands on each and every girl asking God to intervene and take on full control. Surrendering it all to the almighty God is the only way we can survive as human being and now the brave girls at Othandweni are aware of that. The day ended with great food and a future of young teenagers trapped inside vision boards which one day will definitely come to life.
URL:https://thebravegirlinitiative.org/event/vision-board-party/
LOCATION:Sinceni\, Siphofaneni\, Lubombo\, Swaziland
CATEGORIES:brave girls,self worth
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20240205T120000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20240205T143000
DTSTAMP:20260423T234000
CREATED:20240205T165435Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240207T120057Z
UID:2123-1707134400-1707143400@thebravegirlinitiative.org
SUMMARY:Mental Health Teen Camp
DESCRIPTION:It was an honor and privileged to be asked to give a girl talk at the 3 day Mental Health Camp put on by IBoost Foundation. The camp was put on for the children at the Mahlabatsini Orphangae in Matsapha\, an area over run by prostitution\, drugs and theft. \nWe always start the day with a icebreaker and this time was no different\, hot potatoe was hit. We then proceeded to put the girls in groups of 5 and for them to come up with the best description of a girl in their opinion. We got beautiful responses: a girl is brave\, beautiful\, hard working\, courageous\, family oriented\, listener\, friend\, mother\, funny\, takes initiative\, dream chaser and so much more. \nWe then asked the girls what they aspire to be when they grow up and the responses did not disappoint: police officer\, pilot\, fire fighter\, artist\, singer\, teacher\, fashion designer\, lawyer etc. We then went on to discuss how these amazing young girls can become all those things. The main words that came up were focus and believe in yourself. \nOne thing we made sure to speak on during our girl talk was the way we need each other\, we need to support each and we need to remember to help each other\, as sisters come up and stay up. If one of us falls\, we must rally around each other and support. We need to understand that we will always need people in our corner\, and if it happens to my one of us\, it can happen to all of us\, so being there for each other as girls is important. Girl code is real and it matters. \nWe then had a very nice meat together\, provided by the IBoost Foundation and promised to return again. As The Brave Girl Initiative we are definitely taking up space in Eswatini. One conference at a time\, one girl talk session at a time\, whatever it takes\, our girls’ futures will be brighter. \n 
URL:https://thebravegirlinitiative.org/event/mental-health-teen-camp/
LOCATION:Tums Water World\, Sidvokodvo\, Manzini\, Swaziland
CATEGORIES:self worth,teenage pregnacy
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20231213T100000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20231213T113000
DTSTAMP:20260423T234000
CREATED:20240205T165458Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240205T165832Z
UID:2114-1702461600-1702467000@thebravegirlinitiative.org
SUMMARY:Radio Show Be The Best You Can Be
DESCRIPTION:We still can’t believe we were on the radio. The Brave Girl Initiative was asked to join Ps. Ishmael Khumalo on the youth radio program\, Be The Best You. \nThis ground breaking show\, aims to encourage and empower our youth through guests and activities on the radio show. We dived into what our organization offers\, stands for and our take on current affairs of gender based violence\, availability of youth support and empowering one another. It was great to re-tell the story of The Brave Girl Initiative\, explaining where we started from and where we are today. This vision perpetuated the need to empower and educate our girls in Eswatini and also helped develop activities for our youth to partake in that are safe\, fun and wholesome. We are privileged to have travelled all over Eswatini doing this great work\, from Piggs peak to Siphofaneni to Nhlangano and we are still not done. \nAs we were discussing where the organization is heading and just how the future is looking like\, we couldn’t wait to spill the tea. From the launching of the afterschool program called the Beautiful Girl Child\, targeting girls in their early teenage years which is already up and running at Othandweni to the release of the organizations very first book for young brave girls. This book is meant to help girls develop a love for reading and also the books will be all about various brave girls\, just like them\, that doing amazing things\, empowering their community\, in spite of their circumstances and hardships. I guess we can all agree that The Brave Girl Initiative are busy making a statement\, changing lives and creating a chain of sisters around the kingdom of Eswatini.
URL:https://thebravegirlinitiative.org/event/radio-show-be-the-best-you-can-be/
LOCATION:EBIS 2\, Manzini\, Manzini\, Swaziland
CATEGORIES:brave girls,gender based violence,mental health,teenage pregnacy
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20231209T113000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20231209T140000
DTSTAMP:20260423T234000
CREATED:20240205T165517Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240205T184711Z
UID:2119-1702121400-1702130400@thebravegirlinitiative.org
SUMMARY:Girls Mini Conference
DESCRIPTION:https://thebravegirlinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/VID-20240205-WA0007.mp4\nSo\, Eswatini is known for its breathtaking natural landscape\, beautiful scenery\, green vegetation\, vibrant culture and friendly people. Having said that\, there are still some major setbacks for our girls situated in the rural areas which can make it difficult to enjoy the nature we have when hardships are so near to home. Still on the mission to bring truth to all teenage girls in the kingdom\, the Brave Girl Initiative went on yet another adventure of changing lives. This time we travelled to a small community located on in the Lowveld\, Sinceni. \nThis girl talk was help to raise awareness on the dangers of engaging in premature sexual activities\, which tend to give birth to a lot of consequences\, which have halted a lot of our girls’ futures in the kingdom. We kicked off with icebreakers aimed at making the girls feel more comfortable in sharing their thoughts without the fear of being reprimanded. After that\, we selected 3 girls to be mommies for the day to a little baby egg. The girls had to do all activities with the baby egg in tow and jot down when the baby egg ate\, drank\, slept\, played etc. The girls found this activity to be easy …at first. Our day went on with speakers talking about STI’s\, consequences of sexual engagement at a young age\, further risks of poverty etc. We really wanted to get the girls honest opinions on why they feel the need to have relationship\, and at times with much older gentlemen. These were the answers we were given: For money\, for a good time cause being home all day can be boring\, to get chocolates\, to get food\, because their friends are doing it and they have nice cell phones. This was a sad thing to hear. Society has normalized being in a relationship for materialistic things. \nOne thing we strive to do as The Brave Girl Initivative is to equip young girls with good decision making skills\, and after hearing from the girls it was quite clear that there is misinformation circulating on how an actual relationship is meant to be. We also tackled the topic of gender based violence with a very special guest\, Tengudze. This beautiful brave girl\, spoke about her own experiences of domestic and emotional abuse. She was so brave in sharing her journey of suffering at the hands of a man who claimed to love her. The room became so silent when she relieved that in the relationship\, she too had stayed for the materialistic purposes and lost her identity and everything she was doing was now for this man who was taking everything from her. \nShe was so courageous and went on to advice young girls to focus on investing in their future\, once you are able to know your worth then no person will define who you are. This was truly the highlight of the event\, filled with true emotions based on true life events.
URL:https://thebravegirlinitiative.org/event/girls-mini-conference/
LOCATION:Sinceni Carepoint\, Siphofaneni\, Lubombo\, Swaziland
CATEGORIES:gender based violence,mental health,teenage pregnacy
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20231125T123000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20231125T163000
DTSTAMP:20260423T234000
CREATED:20240205T165538Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240205T165538Z
UID:2105-1700915400-1700929800@thebravegirlinitiative.org
SUMMARY:Youth Empowerment
DESCRIPTION:The Brave Girl Initiative collaborated with the iBoost Foundation on an event to empower students doing Form 5. The event was held at the Free Evangelical Church found in Ngwane Park\, Manzini. After the sudden announcement was made by the Ministry of Education that all Form 5 (Grade 12) students would be retaking their examinations\, waves of anxiety overcame the students since they had already finished their entire examination. The two organizations\, saw the need to band together and have an empowerment session with all the students to encourage their to press on and more importantly give counsel to some of their questions and concerns about what this means for them and what it has done to them mentally. \nRepresenting The Brave Girl Initiative\, our afterschool program coordinator\, Nokwanda\, had the privilege of sharing her experiences\, from high school all the way to college. One topic that stood out to the students was the issue of perseverance and not comparing your life to someone else. Nokwanda shared about finishing high school\, and all her friends got into colleges whereas she had to take the longer road getting there. Things just weren’t panning out. But if she had focused on what other people were doing she wouldn’t have be where she is today. \nWe went on to discuss what causes barriers between a student and his/her future\, and the participants assisted in listing factors including peer pressure\, lack of funds\, etc. One of the students pointed out that some learners tried to convince him not to study because their future was already ruined. His friends told him that there was no way he could study for an entire examination in just a few days. Talking to each other like this caused a lot of act rendered the anxiety and feelings of hopelessness. Our advisors then proceeded to discuss with the students what to do when he/she feels the walls closing in. We discussed breathing techniques\, journaling\, and gave resources for counselors they could reach out to for help. We decided to remind them that they have visions and dreams for their future\, so we asked each of them to share what career paths they wish to pursue after the results come out. Most of them want to travel overseas to do medicine. As reference to her presentation of being patient and working hard\, she used the story of King Saul in the bible as her analogy\, whom in a moment of impatience and ignorance he lost all his blessings. \nThe idea was to encourage the learners to not focus on the outside noise but rather on the future they dream of having because it’s still there just that life is a series of changes and you have to be flexible with each change and fight for your dreams. We ended the last hour of the day with the organizers doing one on one counselling sessions with every learner who was present. Learners were mentally renewed and ready for their examination papers on Monday because of this quick thinking of two organizations who have a heart for the youth in Eswatini.
URL:https://thebravegirlinitiative.org/event/youth-empowerment/
LOCATION:Free Evangelical Church Ngwane Park\, Manzini\, Manzini\, Swaziland
CATEGORIES:mental health
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20231020T100000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20231020T150000
DTSTAMP:20260423T234000
CREATED:20240205T165555Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240205T165555Z
UID:2097-1697796000-1697814000@thebravegirlinitiative.org
SUMMARY:Anti- Teenage Pregnancy Campaign
DESCRIPTION:We were so glad to be given this opportunity to be part of this campaign. It was located in Bhunya\, a community found in the Manzini region of the Kingdom. The event started off with a march\, where all stakeholders\, parents\, government officials\, NGO’s and participants which included teenage boys and girls of local schools in Bhunya\, police officers\, parents\, government officials and everyone affected by teenage pregnancy. Whilst all speakers revealed alarming statistics on the record number of rising cases of teenage pregnancy\, one representative of the ministry of education raised a few eyebrows with his speech. He pointed out that though the escalation of children falling pregnant while in school has always been there it seemed to have escalated during and after the Covid 19 pandemic. It really made us all wonder what could have gone so wrong and how we can we address the issue. \nAs The Brave Girl Initiative we have always suspected the lack of information\, lack of direction\, motivation and good wholesome entertainment could be partly to blame for this rise\, especially during covid 19 and in the rural areas. It was wonderful sight to see some of the teenagers speaking about their choices to stay away from teenage pregnancy during this campaign and why its so important to do so.  Our very own Brave Girl\, Nkosingphile\, got up on the stage and told her story of how teenage pregnancy affected her life. She told her story how she fell pregnant in Form 4 (Grade 11). For her\, it began with shame of how her family was living\, in poverty and extensive daily struggle to just make it to the next day.  She believed that when this much older gentlemen approached her that he would basically be saving her and her family.  And that is really what a lot of girls struggle with on the daily basis\, causing them to make bad decisions and ultimately change the course of their future. \nThe campaign went on to be a very successful day and we saw the impact it had on the teenagers and how as each girl and young man that shared their experiences helped to change their thinking about teenage pregnancy. \nOur Brave Girl’s incredible story gave the young people at the campaign the truth about teenage pregnancy and how it can drastically alter your life. We are proud that she is using her story to become a voice\, a tool to help young people choose the right path and take their time to be young and free. We are trying by all means with our teenage pregnancy talks to make our young people aware that sometimes a moment of ignorance and weakness can cost you a lot. We encourage young teenagers to understand the implications of acting before reviewing the consequences. The Brave Girl Initiative will proceed in telling the real truth behind all things teenage related and encourage them to have self-identity\, self-worth and to be patient to obtain a bright future.
URL:https://thebravegirlinitiative.org/event/anti-teenage-pregnancy-campaign/
LOCATION:Community Hall Bhunya\, Bhunya\, Manzini\, Swaziland
CATEGORIES:teenage pregnacy
END:VEVENT
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