Harare South youths have turned to income generating projects following a series of successful life skills training conducted by Restless Development, Silveira House and Hopley Can Change Initiative (HCCI) in a bid to eradicate robbery, prostitution, early child marriages and domestic violence in the sprawling slum.

The youths were trained skills that range from carpentry, plumping, building to electronic engineering.

At a workshop held recently, Hopley residents applauded the works that were being done by community-based civic groups. “I am really elated with what these organisations brought to this community. I never thought I could have a certificate which can unlock the doors to better life since I left school at Form 2,” said Bryan Mhaka, a beneficiary of the training programme.

This is a second empowerment initiative given to Harare South youths after earlier this year they CERSSHAR held a skills training workshop for girls under the age of 25 who had failed to complete their education.

“Now that I have acquired a certificate it, I can now be an entrepreneur because I have knowledge. This training helped me in that I no longer have to spend time in gambling or in violence related incidence,” said Simbarashe Dikinya.

The programmes co-ordinator, Osman Ngwenya thanked the restless development for its unwavering support in training youths on income savings and lending (ISAL) project. This helped them to have basic idea of knowing what is income and expenditure.

“Some of these youths had left school because of a number of reasons but now they have equipped themselves with knowledge the now see the purpose of life. It is now their duty to use that knowledge into tangible things.”

Parents of the children who benefited said they appreciated the initiative done by the youths in calling NGOs to come and give their children lifeskills.

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By Erasmus Mabhebhura