malvernmugadzikwa
Sunday Mail Reporter
ONE of Zimbabwe’s largest food manufacturers, National Foods, was on Friday accorded the Outstanding Contribution to Community and Empowerment accolade at the 7th Zimbabwe National ESG and Responsible Business Achievement Awards.
In a statement, National Foods said the award was a result of initiatives the company had put in place to combat drug and substance abuse among youths in rural communities.
The firm said the Community Foundation for the Western Region, which it spearheads, has initiated a programme targeting primarily young people in rural communities.
“The programme, dubbed ‘A Life A Day’, has, as one of its main objectives, leading sustainable plans to ensure that youth are capacitated through a series of trainings to be self-sufficient and become actors in their personal development.
“Through a series of workshops, the foundation has facilitated conversations with young people in four districts of Matabeleland. These workshops have had a profound impact on the youth that have participated,” said the firm.
National Foods has, through the Foundation, also sponsored more than 15 university students from rural communities.
“For the November 2023 cohort, 12 students from various national universities graduated. With this initiative, National Foods is again showing its unwavering commitment to national development through skills training,” said the company.
Bongani Ndlovu