Programmes Director William Kamusono said the NGO would be responsible for the establishment and administration of vocational skills training centres in conjunction with the Ministry of Youth.
The first centre is scheduled for May at Murambinda Growth Point. In an interview last week on the sidelines of the district consultative meeting at the Buhera Rural District Council offices, Kamusono said the training would enable women and youths to set up businesses to sustain their families and contribute to national development.
“We want everyone involved to benefit from these programmes,” he said, adding that a pilot project in tailoring for women and a literacy centre had been established in Dorowa last year. A total of 87 participants had since graduated with tailoring certificates.
“We are already in the process of forming a cooperative with other stakeholders including the government that will ensure that the women trained used their skills to generate income and improve their livelihoods,” he said.
If more funding became available the NGO also plans to establish vocational training centres in all the provinces. Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment district officer Tichaona Mareya said skills development programmes were an important factor in improving employment creation opportunities.
According to his ministry, close to 300,000 school leavers are churned out annually, with little prospect of employment.
Post published in: News