About Us
History
Our story starts way back in year 2015...
- 2015 - student platform for career development
- 2018 - transitioned into a formal organization
- 2019 - officialy registered as a non-profit organization
CASDI Trust was established in 2015, first as an informal platform for university students on attachment to access career development opportunities, including scholarship and employment opportunities. During that time, it emerged that most promising young female students failed to access these opportunities due to prevailing social and economic challenges in Zimbabwe which forced them to prioritize income generation, compliance with harmful socio-cultural demands at the expense of their educational and personal development.
This situation placed most young women and girls, both in and out of school in a vulnerable position where they faced sexual, physical and emotional violence in order to access economic opportunities and some basic social services. Negative outcomes such as dropping out of school, unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, emotional instability, unsafe abortions, and limited access to appropriate Sexual Reproductive Health, Gender-Based Violence, Mental Health information and services represent a small fraction of challenges currently faced by these young women.
In order to address these challenges and contribute to creating an enabling environment for young people that the organization works with, especially young women and girls, CASDI Trust transitioned into a development organization with a mission of empowering young people in accessing innovative Sexual Reproductive Health and Gender Based Violence services through promotion of sustainable communities that participate in valuing, protecting and advancing their worth and rights.
In 2019, the organization was officially registered as a Non-Profit Organization (MA984/ 2019), with operational areas in Harare and Masvingo Provinces, Zimbabwe.
Achievements
- Establishment of a governance board & formal registration for the organization
- Recognition by local authorities (e.g. District Administration & City Council)
- Partnership with other NGOs and with National Coordination Bodies
- Establishment of Youth Hubs
- Presenting research papers on regional and international platforms (e.g. International AIDS Society)