Participants doing group work during a workshop held at Crossdale Primary School Training of Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) (3) The LRF embarked on activities designed to enhance the sustainability of its communitybased work by building the capacity of selected CBOs, at this time specifically in Nyanga, Zvishavane and Chiredzi. Working from the premise that CBOs play important roles in communities and can be agents of change at community level, the training included project management, financial management, good governance and advocacy. During the lifetime of the project they will be assisted to link their communities with decision makers and employ practical advocacy strategies to bring about desired change in their communities. To date the LRF has worked with three CBOs and trained 57 members, 27 of them women. Conversation cafés (2) Conversation cafés provide a platform for youth in communities to come together to discuss legal issues affecting them and the community at large. Although issues raised as challenges by the youth varied from place to place, the issue of child abuse and child marriages emerged from all discussions across the country. Other common issues were drug abuse, domestic violence, high unemployment and school drop-outs. The problems of corruption among public service officials and poor service delivery were identified as contributing to human rights violations. The challenges raised during conversation cafes were then escalated for discussion during outreaches and workshops as well as informing the LRF’s advocacy work. 14

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