117 graduate from Hlekweni

Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Reporter
A total of 117 disadvantaged youths from Bubi and Umzingwane Districts graduated at Hlekweni Training Centre, on the outskirts of Bulawayo, after completing a course in vocational skills education. Speaking at the graduation ceremony on Thursday, the director of Hlekweni Training Centre, Mr Innocent Moyo, said the graduates have been given a second chance in life as they did not have any qualifications before.

During the six months course, the students received training in agriculture, building, plumbing and early childhood learning teaching.
“The youths who are graduating are a very special group as they are drawn from rural areas. These youths came to Hlekweni without any skills but now they have been equipped with knowledge to improve their lives,” said Mr Moyo.

He said the graduates did not pay for their training as their fees were paid by partners of Hlekweni.
Mr Moyo said the training was an eye opener to the youths who now have a responsibility to improve the areas they come from.

“The purpose of this training was to equip youths and these youths have assumed a responsibility to develop their communities. They have been trained to become employers and we have created a data base so that we can make follow up on them and see what they would have done,” he said.

Mr Moyo said graduates were not only trained in vocational skills but were exposed to programmes such as male circumcision and behavioural change programmes which they could not access before.

Bubi Rural District Council chief executive officer and guest of honour Mr Patson Mlilo commended Hlekweni for its initiative to educate rural youths.

He advised the graduates to desist from promiscuity saying it was a major setback as far as development is concerned.
“To the graduating trainees I wish to warn you of HIV and Aids pandemic that has drained our labour force,” said Mr Mlilo.

Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Ms Sitheni Ncube said the six months training equipped them with life changing skills as most of them did not have any skills when they came to Hlekweni.