TUTUMA – Shona ‘to rise like a bubble and fizz.’
Tutuma was formed by two women, Janelle Jenvey, a Zimbabwean, and Nathalie Pownall, a British actress, who wanted to do something to improve the lives of hundreds of Zimbabwean orphans and women who have been affected by the AIDS pandemic that now sweeps the unstable country.
Our Aims and objectives
Using Drama, Dance and movement, Nathalie Pownall a British actress and Zimbabwean born Janelle Jenvey have assembled professionals in Zimbabwe and the UK to create and develop programmes to help Orphaned children and young adults to deal with the impact of the disease in their lives. With the support and guidance of Zimbabwean Aids Health specialist Dr Ingrid Landman and using these methods we aim to raise both awareness and focus on education of the disease.
Chitinguiza, Tree of Hope
Why Zimbabwe?
Janelle Jenvey was born and brought up in Harare and had a vision to work there using Drama. She started to develop the idea of TUTUMA over the last few years and met Nathalie when she was working to pay her way through Drama school.
With the Political Situation in Zimbabwe, the recent facts issued by UNICEF hi-light that the situation is terrifying:
Between 2002 and 2006, the population is estimated to have decreased by four million people.
Funding is at its lowest ever, with the average HIV person getting around $4 per year (its neighbouring country Zambia gets around $187 - it has a lower HIV rate.
Why Women?
Women account for more than half (58%) of adults estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe. New HIV infections among women outnumber those among men in Zimbabwe.
Young women are especially hard hit by HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe. Among young people ages 15-24, the estimated number of young women living with HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe was more than twice that of young men.
Average life expectancy for women, who are particularly affected by Zimbabwe's AIDS epidemic, is 34 - the lowest anywhere in the world.8 Officials from the World Health Organisation have admitted that since this figure is based on data collected two years ago, the real number may be as low as 30.
By protecting the women we can help save the lives of many babies who are born to HIV postive mothers and are often abandoned or abused after their mother dies.
Nathalie with Ivy, the leader of a dance workshop led by HIV positive women for HIV positive girls.
Why Orphans?
This year there will be 1 million children orphaned through HIV,
Infant mortality has doubled since 1990 and Zimbabwe Has the fastest growing child mortality rate.
Zimbabwehas a higher number of orphans, in proportion to its population, than any other country in the world, according to UNICEF. Most of these cases are a result of parents dying from AIDS.
The above are just a few statistics.
Going Forward Under the political climate, it is becoming increasingly difficult to take an active stance in Zimbabwe and we are now working alongside Dr Ingrid Landman's Zimbabwean Charity – S.H.E Sharing Health Empowerment a charity to support women and children affected by HIV.
We are always looking for new ways to share our message and are keen to hear from anyone who may be interested in getting involved with Tutuma or want to pledge their support.
Children at our workshop in Chitungwiza 2006
Statistics taken from:
Footnote
*Please note we are in no way a Political Group and will NOT give any form of comment on the Politics of the Country.