By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Young Africa Zimbabwe is strengthening efforts to empower young people in Beitbridge through the implementation of the second phase of the Skills for Youth Resilience Programme (SYRP).
The cross-border initiative is funded by SERVE in Solidarity Ireland and is aimed at equipping marginalised young people with practical skills for sustainable livelihoods.
Speaking to Ziyah News Network, Young Africa Zimbabwe District Project Coordinator, Perseverance Ndou, said the programme had recruited 176 beneficiaries, comprising 62 males and 114 females.
The beneficiaries are drawn from various communities across Beitbridge, including Shashe Ward 8, Lutumba Ward 15, Malala Ward 6, Tongwe Ward 4 and Beitbridge urban Wards 3 to 6.
Ndou said the six-month training programme offers six vocational trades designed to respond to practical livelihood and employment opportunities.
These include Climate-Smart Agriculture, Cosmetology, Hotel and Catering, Metal Fabrication, Motor Mechanics and Solar Technology.
Beyond technical training, the programme places emphasis on preparing young people for the realities of the workplace and equipping them with the knowledge needed to establish and manage their own businesses.
“To help graduates navigate real-world workplace dynamics and build their confidence and self-esteem, we also train students on life skills. Further to that, Young Africa Zimbabwe also has an Entrepreneurship curriculum, which gives students the knowledge to set up their own enterprises, manage inventory, handle bookkeeping and market their products,” said Ndou.
She said that participants also undergo work-readiness training to prepare them for employment, with all 176 beneficiaries having been attached to different companies in Beitbridge for practical workplace exposure.
The industrial attachments provide an opportunity for trainees to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during their training while gaining valuable experience in real working environments.
The implementation of SYRP Phase II comes at a time when Young Africa Zimbabwe is consolidating its contribution to youth skills development and empowerment in Beitbridge.
This follows the recent graduation of 430 young people who completed training under the Skills2Live–SRHR Knows No Borders project, jointly implemented by Young Africa Zimbabwe and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with support from the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training.
The two initiatives demonstrate the importance of investing in vocational education, practical skills development and youth-centred interventions as pathways towards addressing unemployment, promoting entrepreneurship and strengthening the resilience of young people.
Through SYRP Phase II, Young Africa Zimbabwe and its partners are seeking to ensure that young people, particularly those from marginalised communities, are not only equipped with employable skills but are also empowered to create their own economic opportunities and contribute meaningfully to the development of their communities.
With 176 young people currently undergoing training and workplace exposure, the programme represents another important step towards building a skilled, confident and economically resilient generation in Beitbridge.