Coventry hails social entrepreneurship

Latwell Nyangu
YOUTH, Sport, Arts and Recreation Minister, Kirsty Coventry, has hailed social entrepreneurship among the youths as it equips and empowers young people to build sustainable businesses which transform their communities.

The message was delivered on her behalf, during the launch of Stenom Foundation on Saturday, an initiative aimed at empowering young people to have sustainable businesses.

“The youths are the drivers of any economy as they are still young and energetic.

“Stenom Foundation’s mission of reducing unemployment and increasing the number of young people from the age of 16 to 35, involved in social entrepreneurship, is very noble.

“Social entrepreneurship is not recognised in Africa compared to other parts of the world.  We welcome Stenom for the work they will put in the initiative in equipping and empowering young people to build sustainable businesses that transform their communities.

“To achieve this, they will work to inspire youths into entrepreneurship and capacitate the youths with skills that entrepreneurship demands such as soft skills and financial literacy.”

Added the Minister: “As a Ministry, we have been doing entrepreneurship training through our vocational training centres and what they are doing is complementing Government effort.

“We encourage your support and commitment to uplifting, empowering and developing the youths, both in Zimbabwe and abroad, as we work towards the Sustainable Development Goals number 1 and 8.”

Founder and director of the foundation, Ruth Dhliwayo, said:

“What drove me to come up with this initiative is a combination of life experiences and challenges I faced. I want many young people to be inspired, everyone across all disciplines.

“I always wanted to build a school but it’s not always about the knowledge that you acquire but the application of the knowledge.

“Stenom is a vehicle of opportunities for young people, we want to work on the application of the knowledge you have.

“We will be working with different organisations to put forward this initiative.

“We want young people to build sustainable, thriving businesses and transform the communities, and that’s where we start building Zimbabwe.”

During the same event, many young entrepreneurs who graced the occasion, shared their experiences.