Irish Minister of State, shaking hands with the Zimbabwe of tomorrow

On July 21, Young Africa Zimbabwe had the honour of welcoming the Irish Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond, and his delegation to our Chitungwiza campus. The visit was a special opportunity to showcase the transformative power of our vocational training model, made possible through the steadfast support of Irish Aid and SERVE.

For the past 17 years, SERVE has stood alongside Young Africa, funding scholarships, training teachers, sending volunteers, and supporting the construction of hostels and classrooms, as well as equipping workshops. All of this with one shared mission: to pivot Zimbabwean youth towards a brighter future.

During their tour, the delegation visited departments including Motor Mechanics, Solar Technology, and the Wellness Centre, where they met students, instructors, and alumni. But they didn’t just witness projects, they encountered potential. They heard from young people determined to change the course of their lives. They shook hands with tomorrow’s business owners and skilled professionals. They walked through a future being built, one trained, empowered youth at a time.

Today, SERVE and Young Africa are in the second phase of our Skills for Youth Resilience Programme, a three-year journey reaching 5,000 young people with skills that not only teach, but transform. It’s this partnership that also enabled us to launch our very first mobile training unit in Bulawayo, taking opportunity on the road and into communities that need it most.