From Idleness to Independence: How Sista2Sista Changed Sikhulile’s Future

By Andile Vundla

For many young girls growing up in remote communities, opportunities can seem distant and out of reach. In some cases, poverty, unemployment and limited access to information leave adolescent girls vulnerable to early marriages, teenage pregnancies and other risks that can alter the course of their lives.

This was the reality facing a 22-year-old Sikhulile Ncube from the Arda-Balu rural estate area in Ward 8 of Umguza District, Matabeleland North Province.

When the National AIDS Council’s Sista2Sista programme was introduced in her community, it was largely viewed as an initiative aimed at equipping adolescent girls and young women with knowledge on HIV prevention, sexual and reproductive health, menstrual hygiene management and the dangers of child marriages.

For Sikhulile, however, the programme became much more than a platform for health education.

It became a turning point.

Having completed her Ordinary Level studies in 2020, Sikhulile found herself facing a future clouded by uncertainty. With limited opportunities available in her community, she worried that idleness could expose her to vulnerabilities that have affected many young girls in similar circumstances.

In an area where illegal mining activities attract young people seeking quick income, many girls face pressure that often leads to school dropouts, early marriages and teenage pregnancies.

Determined to chart a different path, Sikhulile joined the Sista2Sista programme in 2024.

What began as a quest to stay occupied soon transformed into a journey of self-discovery, empowerment and skills development.

Through regular sessions, she gained knowledge on menstrual hygiene management, self-care and life skills that strengthened her confidence and ability to make informed decisions about her future.

But the programme’s impact did not end there.

Recognising the need to equip young women with practical skills that can help them become self-reliant, the programme linked participants to livelihood and vocational training opportunities.

For Sikhulile, this opened doors she never imagined possible, as she went on to pursue her studies under at Onxy Academy in Bulawayo acquiring the Nurse aid and Baking certificates in 2024.

“Through Sista2Sista, I learnt the importance of menstrual hygiene and self-care. The programme also opened doors for me to pursue skills training, and I have since obtained certificates in Nurse Aid and Baking, which are helping me become more independent,” Sikhulile said.

Today, the young woman who once feared the consequences of idleness is building a future grounded in hope and self-reliance.

Armed with new skills and qualifications, she is exploring opportunities that could enable her to earn an income while pursuing her career aspirations.

Her story reflects the broader impact of the Sista2Sista programme, which continues to empower adolescent girls and young women, aged 15 to 24 years in vulnerable communities with knowledge, confidence and practical skills to shape their own futures.

For Sikhulile, the programme has not only provided information about health and wellbeing, but it has given her something equally valuable, a chance to dream beyond the limitations of her environment and the tools to turn those dreams into reality.