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By Richard Kawazi in Bindura
Youths with poor backgrounds and living with disabilities are reclaiming their socio-economic wealth through a special community initiative in Bindura, Nhau/Indaba has learnt.
This is has become possible through a woman led private voluntary organisation that is breaking the chains of poverty in Mashonaland Central’s Bindura community.
Young Generation, an organisation supported by a team of volunteers disabled has given a sense of entrepreneurship to disabled youths through free vocational training.
Nhau/Indaba recently interacted with some of the beneficiaries of the vocational training programmes who shared their compelling stories of victory after almost giving up on life due to impoverished backgrounds.
The triumphant youths, continue to challenge societal norms where young disabled women are excelling in the male-dominated carpentry discipline.
Such is also the case for young men who have taken up fashion design as a vocational skill to empower themselves economically.
Cynthia Nyangwaru (20) who only communicates through sign language said she dropped out of school before completing her Grade 7 exams in a single-parent headed home after her father died.
She narrated her experiences to Nhau/Indaba whilst her carpentry instructor Sir Gryngo, assisted with translating her sign language.
Following her father’s death, Nyangwaru’s mother could not afford to send her to a school for children with special needs.
“I did not complete my primary school after my father died. At the same time, my mother could not afford to send me to a school where I could also learn with children with similar disabilities,” she narrated.
Dropping out of school drove Nyangwaru to a limited experience of performing house chores and menial part-time jobs to assist her mother.
Her breakthrough was when Young Generations founder, Auntie Memory Siyapiya reached out to churches and community social media groups seeking to assist disabled youths with disabilities.
Instead of taking fashion and fabrics like other young women, Nyangwaru decided to challenge herself with training in carpentry – a physically demanding discipline.
Another youth, Tatenda Daphne Maturure found an embracing community to kick start a new career in Fashion Design due to the programme.
At 17 she is a beaming light of hope for the hopeless and economically disadvantaged youths.
She decided to enroll at the vocational institute out of eagerness to explore her passion for fashion design.
Furthermore, Maturure was born with a learning disability that slows down her motor skills – however, her disability is not a deterrent to pursuing her dream.
She aspires to become a top fashion designer and dressing Zimbabwe’s A-listers.
“My dream is to one day become the best fashion designer in Zimbabwe and dress celebrities and even the President,” she said.
These are two gripping testimonies of the girl child who has overcome challenges of living with disabilities.
Siyapiya founded the life inspiring organisation after leaving an NGO that catered for needs of orphans in Harare before registering Young Generations in 2018.
This was a move to continue her philanthropic works which saw her launch the Bindura Chapter in 2021 together with four young women who trained in fashion and fabrics.
Siyapiya told Nhau/Indaba that the Japanese Embassy offered support to build a training institution on condition her organisation secures a stand to build the college.
She has since appealed for financial assistance to propel her into making this aspiration a dream come true.
“We are appealing for well-wishers to help us buy a stand because the Japanese embassy has already pledged assistance to build a college for us,” said Siyapiya. Nhau/Indaba
