Over 60 youths have become testimonies of the projects being propounded by a Chitungwiza-based young people-led organisation, Teen Rescue Mission (TRM), through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) grant.
The grant has seen transformations on poultry project, dressmaking, and baking, making an impact on youths in Chitungwiza and areas around.
The youths are benefiting as a way of saving them from social ills of drug and substance abuse, youth crime, and teen pregnancy, which have been on the rise in the country.
TRM Director Abraham Matuka revealed that the support has gone a long way to establish a vibrant empowerment in poultry project, dressmaking, and baking for the youths.
“The grant has strengthened our efforts to equip the youths with practical skills and steer them away from drug and substance abuse.
“The CFLI support has enabled our organisation to acquire the poultry equipment, sewing machines and stoves for baking which is needed in helping the drive of youths getting empowerment.
“The support is very timely and very resonating with the drive on giving skills to young people.
“When our youths have skills and something to do, they will not spend time in drugs and crimes,” said Matuka
Most of the beneficiaries are young, underprivileged girls who expressed their gratitude, commending the support, saying that it has come at the right time when many young people are struggling with unemployment.
Natalie, an 18-year-old beneficiary, thanked CFLI for coming to transform their lives as youths.
“As young peopl,e we are so glad to have received this kind of support from the Canadian Embassy.
“I was always home with no direction, but the coming of CFLI grant has changed my life. I am now being empowered as a young woman and currently using those skills to even work for some bigger brands here in Zimbabwe.
“I can say that I gained these skills through the CFLI-supported programme at Teen Rescue Mission, and I can now live independently,” she said.
While another youth said, initiatives keep youths away from social ills.
“We welcome these initiatives with all our hearts as they save us from the effects of drug and substance abuse.
“We want to thank Canada Embassy and Teen Rescue Mission for carryingout such initiatives.”
Another youth said, there is great empowerment in the initiatives.
“Imagine if you are part of these projects, once you are done, you have become your own boss.
“It will be easy to transform others through the skills impacted on us.”
