dyton mupawaenda
Latwell Nyangu
THE Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe, Zhou Ding has hailed youth organisation Teen Rescue Mission (TRM) for making tireless efforts aimed at promoting youths’ employment and empowerment, as well as fighting against drug abuse, juvenile crimes, and early pregnancy.
He was speaking on Monday during a handover of 250 points of Layers chickens to the organisation.
“It’s my great pleasure to visit the city of Chitungwiza, a place brimming with youthfulness and vitality, a place where we come together today under the banner of compassion, hope, and a shared commitment to the well-being of Zimbabwean youth.
“My sincere thank goes to the TRM for bridging the Chinese Embassy and the people of Chitungwiza together.
“The TRM has taken tireless efforts to promote youth employment and empowerment, as well as to fight against drug abuse, juvenile crimes, and early pregnancy,” he said.
“What you have achieved is a great contribution to the social stability, community development, and the youth cause of the country.
“Youth is the hope of a nation. In pursuit of a brighter future for Zimbabwean youth, the Chinese Embassy has launched a series of charitable initiatives titled “Hope Harbor” this year.
“I am very proud to see the TRM chicken project in Chitungwiza is making positive effects and bringing hope to the youth here.
“I am so proud that our partnership with the government, local communities, and civil societies like the TRM is creating an inclusive and compassionate environment for Zimbabwean youth.
“Through the years, China has not only lent a hand to Zimbabwe built projects like airports, power stations, stadiums, but also schools, hospitals, boreholes, etc, to benefit communities and the well-being of the youth.”
According to the ambassador, the Chinese Embassy will continue to work with local partners like the TRM to foster youth empowerment.
TRM director, Abraham Matuka hailed the partnership with the Chinese Embassay.
“We are pleased as TRM to receive this great donation from ambassador Zhou.
“His presence in Chitungwiza since as an organisation we are driven to empower youths, we have opened a Vocational skill training Centre.
“At our training centre we have 62 youths enrolled and the number is increasing each day.
“From the 62 youths, the large number is dominated by young single mothers who are vulnerable.
“Some of the young mothers have nothing to use for their practical during their lessons.
“Some of them walk long distances coming to school because they can’t raise 50 cents for transport,” said Matuka.
He said the donation came as a relief.
“Now with this donation we believe it will be a relief to the mothers as they stand to work in with chickens and produce something that will sustain them.
“This project will also keep some youths who were idol busy as they will be responsible for feeding the chickens and taking care of them.
“The project will be a learning phase for the youths so, when done with school they are able to do poetry and have a living from it.”
Matuka expressed the need for more support from stakeholders at their youth centre as they still have to come up with having power for the machinery that is being used at the school as it helps in the school work for youths.
Junior Mayor for Chitungwiza Denzel Hwata spoke highly of the work being done by TRM.
“Chitungwiza has become high in young people engaging in drugs. The coming in of TRM in Chitungwiza has been of great help.
“We as Junior Council of Chitungwiza managed to identify some youths who were idols and we referred them to TRM and they were enrolled in life skill courses which the youths recently graduated.
“They are now living through the skill they got from TRM,” he said.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter