Empower youths with life skills-learning institutions told
Providence Moyo
Government and other stakeholders have called upon learning and training centres to prioritize practical studies.
Speaking at the official launch of the Jairos Jiri and Bulawayo City Council youth hubs that were initiated by theNetherlands Development Organization (SNV) under the Opportunities for Youths Employment (OYE) project at Jairos Jiri Nguboyenja VTC, Bulawayo, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youths Sport, Arts and Recreation Dr Thokozile Chitepo said it is important for youths to gain life skills for employment creation.
“It should be noted that promoting youth entrepreneurship through establishment of hubs is one of the strategies to address unemployment among our youth. Government in partnership with development partners, is intensifying its efforts in ensuring that youth are not just employment seekers but also employment creators through creation of hubs which nature them. Supporting youth entrepreneurs and people with disabilities will go a long way towards enhancing the economy’s employment capacity,” she said.
Dr Chitepo explained that Competence Based Education Training (CBET) focuses on making the graduate competent by having the skills, knowledge and values (abilities) which relate directly to the needs of the world of work.
“Unlike the traditional approach, CBET is a systematic approach with each component designed, monitored and evaluated with one thing in mind-skills for life,” she said.
Jairos Jiri President, Dr Alvia Senderai concurred with the Dr Chitepo. “Let’s conscientise the youths to also prioritize creating employment rather than seek for employment,” he added.
Community Service Officer with the City council, Ndabezinhle Lunga who was representing the Director of Housing and Community Services, said BCC remains committed to the establishment and development of youth centres as they are effective in eradicating bad habits like early sexual orientation and drugs.
“As part of assisting our youths to be able to negotiate their ways into the economy, council is working on establishing vocational training centers in all suburbs so that we reduce the distance related barriers,” said Lunga.
SNV (OYE) Project Manager, Cloffas Nyagumbo said the project was inspired by the realization that youths make up the majority of the population in Zimbabwe and that the future lies in this consituency hence SNV saw it fit to target and capacitate them with life skills.
“We are calling on everyone to come together and offer a solutions-based approach to young people through agriculture and energy so that they can self employ and also employ peers…that way, we can all partake in the achievement of vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy (NDS)1,” he said.
Speaking to Community Podium on the sidelines of the event, Nyagumbo said SNV are grateful to the local authority for a partnership that is yielding good results. Council availed land for the youths to do practical skills.
“It is a great honour for SNV to partner with the local authority for the good cause of the youths, especially by creating employment for the both educated and uneducated youths,” said Nyagumbo
Jairos Jiri Chairlady Sanele Mlauzi was thankful to the funding partners as she highlighted how they capacitate the institution to deliver quality products.
SNV invested a total of $21 088 towards the hubs that will cater for poultry, mushroom farming, horticulture, rabbitry, fish farming, hydroponics farming, digital skills and permaculture.
