The Girls legacy is pleased to bring to you a publication of a collection of nineteen letters written by girls. The title of the publication is A Letter to my Father. Contributions for the publication were drawn from 60 letters which were collected from the communities of Glen View, Chitungwiza and Domboshawa from the target groups which The Girl’s legacy is working with as an organisation. Its premise is to assert the voice of girls in writing and deepening their articulation on issues which are affecting their lives due to the rife patriarchal practices within our Zimbabwean culture. The issues highlighted within the book have been normalised in the day to day lives of girls and yet they are oppressive and detrimental to the full development of girls.

Against this background, the Girls’ Legacy with the support of the Canadian Local Initiatives Fund has published A letter to my Father to shape the narrative of the lived realities of girls as they bear the brunt of challenges which they are facing due to patriarchal dominance in society. This publication regrettably acknowledges that most sources of power which bring in transformation in our society are held by men. As is, the girls saw it fit to address their letters to diverse male symbols of patriarchy in different sectors so that they can compressively highlight how they are being affected by those challenges.