The Sunday News
I ENJOY discovering and writing about new things related to fashion, particularly if it involves Zimbabweans… About a month ago, if not less a friend in the modelling industry, Patience Muzanenhamo-Lusengo told me she, in partnership with other stakeholders in the fashion industry had launched an organisation that seeks to empower the girl child to thrive and succeed by using fashion as a means to communicate the message to them.
Patience’s career, ranges from being a modelling agency owner to being an acclaimed producer of the Miss Zimbabwe International Pageant and Shows in USA, Canada, Germany, Australia, South Africa and United Kingdom. Through her line of work, Patience possesses extensive experience in empowering youths and ensuring they achieve their personal goals and potential. Patience is the driving force behind Code Teen into all of Africa and beyond.
The organisation – Code Teen, is the new millennium experience which speaks the language of the 21st century teenage girl.
According to the website, Code Teen motivates – inspires and empowers teen girls on crucial adolescent life skills issues as such as,decoding the mysteries of girl world, peer pressure, getting the most out of life, self-esteem, eating disorders, relationships, sex, teenage pregnancy, popular culture, fashion, make-up, skin and body care, hygiene and nutrition among many other social issues that concern the girl child.
“Code Teen creates a unique and funky platform for teenage girls from all social backgrounds and ethnicities to interact and support each other – dealing with mutual issues and experiences which relate to all young women irrespective of race and social background,” said Patience.
She said Code Teen experiences are executed with a “cool trendy vibe” targeting the mystery and intrigue relating to the ultimate topics, which absorb the young female minds.
I believe the organisation has been in existence for a while now but it really caught my attention after I discovered that there was a Zimbabwean in the midst, working towards positively changing people’s lives.
“Code Teen provides a dynamic experience that is designed to be flexible enough to be incorporated within individual brands, events and can enhance any product venture on offer to the teenage client. Regardless of group size, Code Teen succeeds in creating an intimate environment – encouraging full participation with each individual plus always creating a memorable journey for the corporate company, product and most importantly, the teenage girls.
“Code Teen joins the school environment offering uplifting, informative and fun-filled life lessons unobtainable in any textbook. The school programs and topics are ideal for facilities wanting to expose their teens to experiential learning. The workshops are concise and adapted to fit into the regular school curriculum time table and environment,” she said.
Anyway after I read the profile and the means in which they used to disseminate information I was inspired and intrigued to share what I had discovered.
In my chats I was informed that the organisation holds various workshops with these girls in a bid to get them to really understand themselves and thrive to be respectable citizens.
In June this year, Code Teen in partnership with Kotex – a brand of feminine hygiene products, such as sanitary pads and facial tissues, held a project themed The Kotex “Girlology” Roadshow, where they sought to reach out to about 20 000 girls in South Africa.
The Kotex “Girlology” Roadshow kicked off in March this year, where they started off in KZN, proceeded to the Western Cape and wound up in Gauteng, Pretoria and North West in August.
Over the duration of those six months, Kotex, in association with Code Teen, empowered and transformed over 20 000 young South African women between the ages of 17 and 25 on over 65 universities and colleges.
“The workshops are tailored around self-esteem, self-belief, and self-respect and explore limiting beliefs and self-worth issues that inhibit young women and girls in the 21st Century,” said Patience.
With Code Teen having people such as Patience on board, it comes as no surprise that the message is easily relayed to the girls, through obviously using fashion as a tool to communicate the message. I have mentioned now and again that fashion could be used as a means to disseminate information and I think it is the best way of getting a point across to the masses.
It is particularly easier to do so with the girl child, knowing that it is during their teen years that they are obsessed with fashion.
My only hope is that since this organisation has an experienced team that possesses a diverse knowledge of how to communicate with the girl child, they come to Zimbabwe and perhaps spend a few weeks imparting their knowledge to our girls as well.
Feedback:
Hi man I salute your articles. Keep on it. – Jaa Zeks
Love your articles keep up the good work. – 0778 789 065
Till next week let’s keep styling. For feedback please sms or whatsapp ONLY 0772 337 433
