Story by Wadzanai Mhombera
ZAKA – A youth empowerment initiative dubbed the Brother to Brother Programme is transforming lives in Zaka District, where young people are embracing life skills training aimed at reducing HIV prevalence and curbing drug and substance abuse.
Coordinated by the National AIDS Council (NAC) in partnership with the Tariro Youth Development Foundation, the programme is creating safe spaces where youths can share experiences, receive mentorship, and take charge of their health and future.
Youth participants have credited the programme for helping them steer away from harmful environments and behaviours.
“This programme has helped us stay away from drugs and safeguard our health by encouraging us to know our HIV status and avoid places where social ills are prevalent,” one participant said.
“We are grateful for the knowledge we now have on prioritising our health and protecting ourselves from HIV, AIDS, and other sexually transmitted infections.
“Through this programme, I enrolled at Mushagashe Vocational Training Centre, where I completed a course in Horticulture and Livestock Production.
“We have started various projects including poultry farming. We pooled our resources and built a fowl run that accommodates 200 chicks,” another participant added.
Health experts underscore the importance of such grassroots initiatives in achieving Zimbabwe’s goal of ending AIDS by 2030.
“We expect youths who have been mentored through the programme to get tested and know their HIV status. Those who test positive are assisted to access anti-retroviral treatment and are encouraged to adhere to it,” Mr Emerold Chibhamu, Programmes Manager for the Tariro Youth Development Fund said.
“As NAC, we thought it was important to create a safe space where young people can meet, speak their own language, and express their concerns freely. This allows them to mentor one another and navigate the path of life together. The rising cases of drug and substance abuse among youths, including schoolchildren, necessitated the creation of the Brother to Brother Programme,” Mrs Annastancia Zendakwaye, the Zaka District AIDS Coordinator, explained.
Under the initiative, young people are trained in a range of practical skills, from poultry production and detergent manufacturing to vocational training and peer mentorship. Social soccer tournaments and health education sessions are also part of the programme’s holistic approach to youth empowerment.
