Lily of Valleys UKLily of Valleys UK
Lily of Valleys is an organisation committed to relieving young women and girls in need by way of financial hardship, poverty and domestic/sexual abuse in Zimbabwe. We do this through awarding grants to charities and voluntary organisations that provide: educational resources, vocational training, school uniforms, counselling support and sanitary items.
According to the Global Partnership for Education, in Zimbabwe, girls have increasingly higher dropout rates than boys. In 2021, over 8,000 more girls than boys left secondary school—double the disparity of 2019.
Girls from the lowest wealth quintile are most affected, with a net attendance rate of just 31%. Barriers are particularly intense in rural areas and farming communities—ranging from long distances to school, forced marriages, lack of transport, and the impact of poverty.
“Forced marriages and lack of sanitary products rob many girls of their education, childhood, and future.”
Lily of Valleys addresses these issues by awarding grants to organisations that empower girls through education and support services. These grants help fund school fees, supply learning materials, and provide much-needed counselling and hygiene products.
Financial pressure often forces girls to contribute to household chores or income, making education less accessible. Many families must choose between short-term survival and long-term investment in their daughters' future.
The SAGE program and Educated Out Loud (2024) both identify poverty as a major barrier. Furthermore, a lack of sanitary products results in school absenteeism during menstrual cycles, contributing to academic underperformance.
“Education breaks the cycle of poverty by equipping young women with skills for employment and independence.”
CAMFED has proven that targeted support significantly reduces dropout rates and improves outcomes for disadvantaged girls in Zimbabwe.
According to UK Aid and Change Radio (2024), over 4,500 girls dropped out of school in 2024 due to pregnancy—most from rural communities.
“Through grants, we empower girls to break free from poverty and build brighter, independent futures.”
Overall, Lily of Valleys enables a better life for disadvantaged young women and girls in Zimbabwe. Through strategic support to community organisations, we remove barriers to education and open doors to long-term economic freedom and wellbeing.
