Hoop door vaardigheidstraining

Chitakatira, Manicaland, Zimbabwe, November 4, 2025 – On a bright Tuesday morning in the rural heart of Chitakatira, 31 young people including 17 girls, 14 boys walked proudly across the stage, their faces beaming with joy and accomplishment. This milestone marked their successful completion of the Hope for Kids Zimbabwe Care to Share Programme, a pilot initiative supported by the Oak Foundation and implemented through a network of eight community-based organisations across Zimbabwe.

For many of these youths, life before the programme was heavy with uncertainty. Some had dropped out of school, others struggled to make ends meet, and a few were trapped in cycles of vulnerability. But today, they were not just graduates, they were proof that with guidance, skills, and support, lives can be transformed.

The programme, guided by Young Africa’s Integral Mobile TVET model, trained  students in motor mechanics and hairdressing, integrating life skills, entrepreneurship, and work readiness. During the six-month training, practical mentorship from local Crafts Masters paired with daily childcare support for those with young children ensured no one was left behind.

Ronald Siziba’s graduation brought joy not only to himself but also to his mother, who had once watched her son withdraw into isolation after completing his O-levels with no prospects for further study. “I was slowly losing my child to depression,” she shared through tears. “But thank God for this training it brought my Ronald back. He began helping around the house again, talking to me, and showing interest in life. Now he has graduated as the best student in his field, and my heart is full”.

The instructors themselves shared in the pride of the day. Patric Taonachiri, a motor mechanics trainer at Mutare Vocational Training Centre, highlighted the story of Carrington, a student living with a disability, who initially could neither read nor write. “I had to go the extra mile for him,” Patric said. “Now he is astonishing with cars, and his Crafts Master chose him for an internship automatically. Today, I couldn’t be prouder.”

Ashley Mureyani, a first-time Hairdressing Crafts Master, echoed the transformative power of the programme. “I used to feel isolated, but working with these students changed me. I can now interact confidently, stand on platforms I never thought I could, and see the spark in these students’ lives.”

For students like Simeleni Hunda, a widow with two children, the programme was life-changing. “Life was tough. I tried selling food but kept running losses. Now, after learning hairdressing, life skills, and entrepreneurship, I can run my own business. I provide for my children, and the feeling of knowing they are fed and well-dressed is indescribable.”

Misheck Mlambo, Director at Hope for Kids Zimbabwe, reflected on the broader impact: “These 31 youths were once vulnerable to drug abuse, sex work, and other hardships. Today, they are financially independent, their families uplifted, and their futures brighter. The Care to Share programme has expanded our scope, strengthened networks with Crafts Masters, the government, and the community. We are grateful for the YA Model.”

Across Zimbabwe, 794 young people have now been trained under the Care to Share programme, a network of eight partners fostering market-relevant TVET skills, life skills, and psychosocial support. The programme aims, by December 2026, to see at least 70% of graduates economically active, over 90% empowered in SRHR, and a thriving network of private TVET providers creating opportunities for more vulnerable youth.

On this day in Chitakatira, the faces of these graduates, proud, hopeful, and full of promise, told the story better than any statistic could: that opportunity, care, and skill-building can transform communities.