Online Reporter
Muchaneta Chimuka
More than 200 students from Vana Vedu Trust Organisation in Chitungwiza graduated last Saturday after completing three months of training in various skills, including nurse aiding, motor mechanics, hairdressing, hotel and catering, and business administration.
Some of the graduates are former drug users and school dropouts whose education was disrupted by teenage pregnancies.
Vana Vedu Trust has been providing them with skills training to help them rebuild their lives and contribute meaningfully to the economy.
Speaking during a graduation ceremony held at the Social Welfare Department in Chitungwiza, Community Development Officer for Chitungwiza District in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Mrs Emma Mzilikazi, commended parents and community members for supporting the young people throughout their training.
“I congratulate Vana Vedu Organisation for organising this graduation ceremony and for its continued commitment to empowering children, young people and vulnerable members of our communities through education, skills development and livelihood opportunities,” she said. “Today is a day of celebration, but it is also a day to reflect on the importance of vocational education in our communities.”
Mrs Mzilikazi said vocational skills are not simply skills for employment; they can create livelihoods, support families, and contribute to the economic development of our communities.
She commended the graduates for undertaking an important step towards building their future and encouraged them to embrace new technologies required in the job market.
“The skills you have acquired through this programme can open doors to employment, entrepreneurship and self-reliance,” she said.
“Whether your area of training is baking, hairdressing, automotive, computers or another vocational field, I encourage you not to underestimate the value of what you have learnt.
“The World is changing rapidly, and new technologies, markets and business opportunities are emerging every day. Continue upgrading your skills and embrace digital technology and look for new ways of improving your products and services.
“Zimbabwe needs skilled young people who are prepared to create opportunities, rather than waiting for opportunities to come to them.”
She said the Government has recognised that young people require more than certificates, hence the need for opportunities to apply their skills, access to information, mentorship, markets and appropriate financial support.
This is why partnerships between Government, civil society organisations, private-sector players and communities are important.
Vana Vedu Trust executive director Ms Chipo Mahamba encouraged the graduates to consider entrepreneurship as one of the pathways that leads them to become responsible citizens.
“The skills you have learnt are life-saving, and where possible, start small and grow gradually,” Ms Mahamba.
“Work together, identify opportunities within your communities, understand your customers, and manage your finances responsibly,” she said.
“We believe in your ability to participate meaningfully in the economy. Skills development provides an important foundation for economic empowerment and greater independence as our quest to meet the Vision 2030 agenda and National Development Strategy 2 designed to achieve an empowered upper middle – income society.”
Vana Vedu plays an important role in complementing Government efforts by bringing skills development and empowerment programmes closer to communities by creating a platform where young people can acquire practical skills and prepare themselves for the world of work and entrepreneurship.
