Fighting child marriages using Taekwondo

Child marriages and early pregnancies are on the rise in Zimbabwe mushrooming settlements. One of such settlement is Epworth in the outskirts of the capital Harare. Amidst the loss of morals due to deepening poverty and other factors, at a tender age, a young girl made a difference. Calvin Manika (CM) speaks to Natsiraishe Maritsa (NM).

CM: Good Morning Friends! We could not hold our usual Friday Guest Show due to network challenges. Our apologies! On behalf of Onita, allow me to take over the show this morning as we chat with our esteemed guest. Welcome Natsi and kindly introduce yourself.

NM: Good Morning! Thank you so much. My name is Natsiraishe Maritsa, I’m a Taekwondo champion and the founder of Vulnerable Underaged Peoples Auditorium. I stay in Epworth and I’m 20 years’ old.

CM: Wonderful! Thank you for your time with us this morning. Natsiraishe, you grabbed international media headlines in 2021, the whole world was speaking of you. How old where you and what was your feeling like?

NM: I was 17 at the time and I felt like people understood the urgency of my message which is fighting child pregnancies and marriages. I also felt like there are people who are willing to listen and do something about issues affecting young people.

CM: Urgency is a big word here; it takes us to the impact of your work. But before we dive deeper into that. You then went on to win the International Olympics Champion (IOC) Women and Sport Award for Africa. Tell us more about the award and its significance.

NM: The IOC award is awarded to women in sport doing remarkable work in their societies in a bid to make a positive change. For me it made me realize that I’m not alone in this fight, I’ve people out there who are also seeing the significance of the work I’m doing, who appreciates those little efforts despite age, background or society. Being the representative of Africa made me see that I am not only representing girls in Zimbabwe but Africa as a whole, hence it gave me a goal, to one day widen my activism to other parts of Africa.

CM: Six continents and 6 winners. You were the Africa’s best. This is remarkable. Let’s go back a bit into your life. We want to look at the foundation. The genesis of all this is Taekwondo. Who taught you and how have you manage to sustain the skills for all these years?

NM: Thank you! I actually started with Kyokshin, which is a Japanese style when I was 5. I was taught by my father. However, I had a dream to take part in the World Olympics hence I switched from Kyokshin to Taekwondo in 2018. I believe having a dream to take part in the Olympics sustained the skill and now fighting for change using taekwondo has been a trigger for the sustainability. I have switched instructors over the years but it has been difficult to have one permanent instructor.

CM: I see a spirit of resilience in you. One thing which is clear, you have a mission. Epworth has been in the spotlight but not for the good. What is your experience as a child growing in one of the so called ‘notorious’ communities in Zimbabwe? Forgive the expression.

NM: Growing up in Epworth was not easy like you said. It is a society known for ‘notorious’ people. But, I promised myself to never let that spirit dwell in me. Growing up I would see girls of my age getting into marriage, going for prostitution and others engaging in drug abuse but I never adored it. That made it even difficult for me to have a friend, I was someone who people never really understood. The people I associated with were those from the martial arts club and mainly boys.

CM: I believe such an experience moulded you to be a young leader and the country’s treasure you are today. Seeing all this happening to other teenage girls. How has your Taekwondo skills helped your community?

NM: Taekwondo has helped girls mainly with principles or tenets which are used in Taekwondo and they include integrity, perseverance, self control and indomitable spirit. I believe Taekwondo guide a person into setting goals since everyone in martial arts wants to get a black belt or be a master, being confident in denying anything she doesn’t want, and self control for instance she won’t be controlled by peer pressure.

If one is able to set a goal in taekwondo, she can do the same thing in real life, she can deny to engage in activities that eventually leads to child pregnancies and marriage. Taekwondo requires strength and is painful but that ability to endure physical pain and still make it tomorrow for the next session can be used in life, normatter how hard life gets she will be persistent and won’t give in to child marriages in search of a comfort zone.

CM: This is a great lesson to me and to everyone here. You are at which level now?

NM: I’ve a first Dan black belt.

CM: This is huge Natsiraishe, woow!

CM: Your run an organisation Vulnerable Underaged People Auditorium, tell us more in the light of eradicating early and child marriages.

NM: The organisation was formally registered in 2021. It’s operating in Epworth and we also took it twice to Bulawayo. Our work includes Taekwondo trainings, moral obligation lessons, sanitary pads distributions in societies and empowerment projects. Moral obligation lessons are sessions or workshops which we do with young people, having discussions with them trying to find issues affecting them and try to come up with solutions to those problems. On empowerment skills we have done baking and hairdressing for young girls and boys below the age of 18. We also do what is called Taekwondo dance we mix taekwondo moves with dancing using music which is an entertainment thing. So all things are there for a child to stay focused, to have something to keep them occupied and have them empowered.

CM: Great work and I am happy that you are taking it out to other places outside of Epworth. UNICEF and other international organisations respect you as a Gender Equality Champion. What does that mean to you?

NM: For me it means they believe that the work I’m doing can definitely make a change, that I am making an impact even though personally I see it as baby steps. It encourages me and gives me a will to do my best even when it gets too straining.

CM: True! Today you took time out of your busy schedule to chat with us. Forgive me for not telling you that Besana means children in Nambya language. How can a media house like The Besana Mail help children?

NM: Oh really! That sounds really cool. I think it can assist in helping them reach for their full potential by any means it might be educational, empowerment, and sport wise.

CM: Thank you! Before we end the show, some parents here might be interested to send their children to you for Taekwondo training. I know you have the business side of it to those outside your scope of work. Tell us a bit and how they can reach out?

NM: Thank you! For those who are interested in Taekwondo trainings they can reach out to me on my number +263785748326, it’s for calls and WhatsApp too. I can do home trainings or they can come to my place for the sessions.

CM: Great! Your last words.

NM: My last words especially to young people are, Problems and challenges will always be there in different shapes, colours, sizes and numbers but the most important thing is facing and solving them.

CM: Profound! Thank you Natsiraishe for making time with us today. Keep going and flying.

NM: This pleasure is mine.