Chronicle Editor
Leonard Ncube in Victoria Falls
IN a world where age is often used as an excuse to give up on dreams, Sinikiwe Nkomo proves that it is never too late to pursue an education and achieve your goals. At 35, Nkomo enrolled in non-formal education, commonly referred to as night school, to complete her Ordinary Level education and become a self-reliant woman.
Nkomo’s journey began in Lupane in 1977, where she completed her primary education before moving on to secondary school in Hwange district. Unfortunately, she left Form Four with nothing after her Ordinary Level examinations. Undeterred, Nkomo relocated to Victoria Falls, where she worked as a maid and security guard for several years while still harbouring her dream of becoming “someone” in life.
Finally, in 2012, Nkomo took the bold step of enrolling in non-formal education at Mkhosana Adventist Secondary School. She passed six subjects and immediately enrolled in a teaching diploma course at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo College, which she completed in 2018. Nkomo’s persistence and dedication paid off, as she graduated and fulfilled her dream of becoming a teacher.
But Nkomo didn’t stop there. Instead of seeking employment, she decided to start her own school, Kids R Kids Pre-school, in 2019. Despite the disruptions caused by Covid-19, the school has grown and now has 102 learners in Mkhosana suburb. Nkomo’s ultimate goal is to see the school expand and offer all grades up to Grade Seven in five years.
But Nkomo’s ambitions didn’t end there. She recognised that women and girls in her community needed empowerment, particularly during the pandemic, and founded the Victoria Falls Women and Youths Trust. The Trust aims to empower women and girls through training and support programmes.
“When I relocated to Victoria Falls I did a number of jobs as a maid and as a security guard. I went back to school in 2012 and got six subjects and then I applied to do teacher’s diploma at JM Nkomo College.
“When I finished I decided to open my own school in 2019 and when schools were closed due to Covid-19 I realised I was idle at home. So I figured that was a problem with all women and I decided to organise then and talk about how we could start something that would empower us, that is how Victoria Falls Women and Youths Trust came about,” said Nkomo.
To Nkomo, an idle woman translates to a redundant family and community. She started with a few women before others joined. They registered as a Trust and applied to the Ministry of Women who came to assess and eventually recently approved a loan of $1,8 million to capacitate members with equipment for a sewing club.
Nkomo said the idea is to supply schools with uniforms.
“We sought quotations for sewing machines which we gave the ministry which advised us to mobilise more women who are willing to partake in empowerment programmes.
“When we started we were supplying face masks and our goal is to supply uniforms and t-shirts to schools so as to empower women. We want to establish several groups that should start projects,” she said.
Nkomo said she sought a piece of land in Chief Mvuthu and is currently scouting for partners to drill a borehole to start a market gardening project.
On International Women’s Day, the Trust organised a roadshow and invited various women’s groups in Victoria Falls. More than 200 women and youth drawn from 10 empowerment groups attended.–@ncubeleon
Online Reporter