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Zimbabwe girls trade sex for food | Zimbabwe girls trade sex for food |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Growing numbers of children in Zimbabwe are turning to prostitution to survive, the charity Save the Children says. | Growing numbers of children in Zimbabwe are turning to prostitution to survive, the charity Save the Children says. |
The aid agency says increasing poverty is leading girls as young as 12 to sell their bodies for as little as a packet of biscuits. | The aid agency says increasing poverty is leading girls as young as 12 to sell their bodies for as little as a packet of biscuits. |
It also claims that the coming football World Cup in neighbouring South Africa could soon make things worse. | It also claims that the coming football World Cup in neighbouring South Africa could soon make things worse. |
Unemployment in Zimbabwe is thought to top 90% and many cannot afford to pay for food, medical care or school fees. | Unemployment in Zimbabwe is thought to top 90% and many cannot afford to pay for food, medical care or school fees. |
The deputy head teacher of a large school with 1,500 pupils east of Victoria Falls told the BBC that hundreds of her female students are now selling their bodies for whatever they can get. | |
"It could be books, it could be biscuits, chips, some even just to be given a hug." | |
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Many Zimbabwean children face terrible risks as part of their everyday lives | Many Zimbabwean children face terrible risks as part of their everyday lives |
Throughout my conversation with the deputy head, two small teenage girls in threadbare school uniforms sat watching from a brick wall by the playground. Both are orphans. | |
The older one, who is 14, said she knows many girls here who have become prostitutes. | |
"I don't want to do that but life is so difficult, so very difficult. Both my parents are dead and I rarely see my two sisters. Recently I stood by the river and I thought about throwing myself in but I didn't. I don't know why." | |
There is also evidence that many girls are being targeted by child traffickers, Save the Children's country director Rachel Pounds says. | There is also evidence that many girls are being targeted by child traffickers, Save the Children's country director Rachel Pounds says. |
They are thought to have plans to send young Zimbabwean girls to South Africa to feed the appetite of those attending next year's football World Cup finals. | They are thought to have plans to send young Zimbabwean girls to South Africa to feed the appetite of those attending next year's football World Cup finals. |