Tine Mataz

About 11 years ago, my life changed. I was a healthy vibrant young girl in highschool and suddenly became sickly and frail. I was later diagnosed with a condition called Endometriosis which is when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus causing many symptoms like chronic pelvic pain, abnormal bleeding, excruciating period and many others. I suffer from stage 4 which is the worst kind that have attached some of my organs. My dreams were shattered but I was determined to make that change. 5 years ago I founded my community organization called As I Am Foundation. As I Am conducts Menstrual health education trainings and workshop all around Zimbabwe in order to empower women and girls with reproductive health education. Many women just like me were misdiagnosed or took a long time to get a diagnosis because of lack of awareness and information. Period talk is still taboo especially in rural and peri urban areas and I am trying to change that. My organisation also provides women right sexual abuse information especially information about consent. We also provide skills training in communities in order to fight poverty and provide empowerment. I suffer pain every day of my life, most days having to inject myself with pain medication in order to reach my goals and do my work and I believe that makes me a young change maker. I have not allowed my condition to define me but instead I am using my lived experience to make a change in other women's live so they can avoid getting late treatment like I did. Awareness is key. My organisation also offers Skills based training to communities in Zimbabwe and support to women with Endometriosis. We also have a chapter where we educate girls and women about sexual abuse and consent under the Sexual Abuse Anonymous Zimbabwe.