Organisation empowers women and youths

AT the age of 19, Miss Mitchell Nyoni from Dibutibu village outside Victoria Falls feels empowered to lead a self-reliant life.

She is a beneficiary of the newly opened Batoka Centres of Hope, a one-stop-facility established by Jafuta Foundation in Dibutibu near Chisuma.

Jafuta Foundation, a non-profit organisation that is focused on helping humans and animals alike, was founded by Mrs Gail van Jaarsveldt who is its trustee.

The foundation strives to create and maintain equilibrium between community, wildlife and conservation, education and culture, forming an integral part of development.

Jafuta Foundation has expanded into an all-encompassing organisation with the construction of the Batoka Centres of Hope which will act as a hub from where Dibutibu, Monde, Sizinda and Chisuma communities converge for skills development, learning, community interaction, restoration of hope through several projects targeting women and youth.

The construction of Batoka Centres of Hope comprises a vocational training centre, nursery and garden, education hub with a computer room and library, a children’s play centre, a safe house for victims of gender based violence and abuse, and a sports pavilion.

Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Monica Mutsvangwa recently opened the centre.

Dozens of women and men have graduated with sewing, beads making, iron smiths and gardening skills since 2022 when it started enrolling.

Ms Nyoni is a product of this facility and believes young people could earn a living out of vocational skills. “I started last year after graduating as part of the second group of students. I wish young girls out there could have focus in life and try these vocational courses because I have been economically empowered,” she said.

“I sell my products to the community for income. So I encourage young people to embrace such programmes and get empowered,” said the former Chisuma Primary and Sizinda Secondary schools learner.

The sewing project has benefited women and girls of all ages across Chidobe ward and Hwange District where 130 schools will benefit from re-usable sanitary pads from the sewing project to address school drop-outs as a result of girls’ menstrual cycle.

Ms Lerato Nkomo, one of the young women from Dibutibu, said her life transformed since she joined the centre two years ago.

“We started in 2022 and this has helped me develop my skills. I can now make several products like clothes, table runners and hand bags. Right now we are doing reusable sanitary pads,” she said.

Another youth, Ms Likeness Lusyabwe who graduated last year after completing a sewing course, said she knew nothing about sewing when she joined the centre, and today she is a community trainer. Ms Lydia Nkomo is one of the elderly women that have also benefited from the centre.

“I started as a trainee and now I have gained skills which I am using to make products that I sell to take care of my family. We are grateful to Jafuta Foundation for giving us this opportunity to acquire skills,” she said.

Ms Christina Sibanda from Chisuma village said: “I also started in June 2022 after training and I am now an expert and facilitator in sewing. It has helped me and my family because I get income after selling my products to the community.”

Ms Msanda Ncube from Sizinda village appealed to authorities to help them open more markets. “Villagers are our market as they buy our products such as bags and dresses. We haven’t gotten proper bigger market and we wish we could be assisted to access these market so that what we do here can reach a wider market,” she said.

Batoka Centres of Hope project dovetails with Government rural industrialisation agenda whereby industrial activity is being launched in rural areas based on factor endowments in each rural space.

Under the Second Republic, Government is stepping up efforts towards driving rural industrialisation as a way of stemming rural-urban migration.

The Batoka Centres of Hope provides computer and internet services for learners in the area to research and do their school work.

Speaking at the official opening recently, Minister Mutsvangwa said the concept adopted by the centre was commendable as it addressed social and economic empowerment dimensions of women and girls’ empowerment.

Speaking in Victoria Falls on Tuesday, Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Vangelis Peter Haritatos said it was only through rural industrialisation that Zimbabwe can transform citizens’ lives leaving no one and no place behind through value addition and beneficiation.

He said plans are underway to establish 35 000 village business units around the country and establish better market linkages. -@ncubeleon