Youth Service in Zimbabwe programme gives new hope to youths battling drug abuse

FOR John Chinembiri (not real name), a 25-year-old youth from Harare, the Dadaya Training Centre in Zvishavane District, Midlands Province, has become a turning point in his life.

After years of battling drug addiction and feeling that he had reached rock bottom, Chinembiri says the Youth Service in Zimbabwe (YSZ) programme helped him rediscover purpose and rebuild his future.

Chinembiri was among 185 young people who recently graduated from the programme, marking an important milestone in their journey towards recovery, discipline and self-reliance.

The initiative is being implemented by the Angel of Hope Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Youth Empowerment Development and Vocational Training and focuses on rehabilitating youths through structured training, discipline and vocational empowerment.

“I was lost and didn’t know what to do with my life, but the programme at Dadaya Training Centre has given me a new lease on life. I learnt skills that will help me earn a living and support myself and my family,” said Chinembiri.

The programme provides practical and technical training aimed at enhancing employability, entrepreneurship and long-term self-reliance. Participants are equipped with skills, discipline and values needed to contribute meaningfully to national development.

Chinembiri, who has always been passionate about carpentry, received training in furniture making and has already started taking small orders from friends and family.

“I feel like I am starting a new chapter in my life. I am grateful for the support and guidance I received from the trainers and mentors at Dadaya. I am excited to see what the future holds,” he said.

Graduates received certificates and business start-up kits to help them begin income-generating activities and contribute productively to the country’s socio-economic development.

The initiative forms part of broader national efforts to combat drug and substance abuse while empowering young people with practical skills for economic participation.

Many of the graduates have already begun rebuilding their lives and are now giving back to their communities.

The Dadaya Training Centre has recently been repurposed as a key rehabilitation hub for young people struggling with drug and substance abuse under the rebranded YSZ programme. The centre focuses on transforming, training and empowering youths who were previously involved in substance abuse.

Zimbabwe Youth Council chief executive officer Brian Nyagwande said the Government is committed to placing young people at the centre of the country’s development agenda.

He said the new approach goes beyond training and focuses on integrating graduates into the economy.

“As Government, we are not only training young people but also ensuring they are absorbed into meaningful roles. Concrete measures are underway to integrate national youth service graduates into the public sector, including the security sector, where discipline, patriotism and service are paramount,” said Mr Nyagwande.

He said the initiative aligns with the country’s development aspirations in line with Vision 2030.

The programme targets youths aged between 18 and 35 years, including persons with disabilities and runs for six months — three months of national orientation training followed by three months of community attachment.

Training modules include national history, civic education, disaster management, entrepreneurship, career guidance, drug and substance abuse awareness, and national economic and youth policies.

The programme improves employability by instilling discipline, integrity, resilience and the values of Ubuntu, while also promoting healthy lifestyles and reducing delinquency among young people.