Story by Farai Gwaze
A Shamva-based incubation hub is complementing government youth empowerment efforts by capacitating young people with life skills, enabling them to kick-start income-generating initiatives.
A gazebo-turned-incubation hub is buzzing with activity with young graduates of vocational training programmes gaining hands-on experience to kickstart their businesses rent-free.
“I did beauty therapy at Shamva VTC and then came to the incubation hub where I applied the skills I learnt so I can start my business,” a beneficiary Dorothy Mashayamombe said.
“I run an internet, games and photocopying business. This innovation hub has helped me with a space to work for free,” Rooney Humbate another beneficiary said.
“I get clients here from plaiting hair without paying rent and I use the skills I learnt from the VTC at school,” Barbara Chipadze added.
Administrators of the project emphasised that partnering with the government is critical in empowering young business owners.
“The incubation works such that students doing their vocational training can have a place to work from after completing their training. My plea to the government regarding the youth is to address issues of child marriages, drug abuse and offer access to loans to youth businesses so they can be empowered,” Vocational Trainer, and beauty therapist, Ms Angelbert Goro said.
“Our goal is to nurture a generation that is patriotic, once they are patriotic, they will love their country and be devoted to it, and because of that, they will also be committed to doing other projects that are aligned with youth empowerment. Right now as youths, we may not have much, but by partnering with the government we can be assisted in navigating through certain areas,” the Communications Director, for the Central Organisation for Patriotic Youths, Mr Kudzai Chamukorera said.
The Second Republic established a stand-alone Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training as a way of leapfrogging the empowerment of young people to enable their contribution to the national development agenda.
