MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU-Two hundred and four youths from across Midlands Province have graduated with vocational skills under a programme run by the Multi-Aid Support Organisation (MASO) aimed at tackling youth unemployment and drug abuse.
The graduates, drawn from Gweru, Shurugwi and Chiwundura, were trained in trades including metal fabrication, brick and block laying, cosmetology, carpentry, clothing technology, motor mechanical engineering and solar installation.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, MASO board chairperson, veteran media practitioner Willie Mponda said the initiative demonstrated how partnerships between development organisations and government can transform the lives of young people.
“This occasion is not merely a graduation ceremony, it is a powerful testament to what can be achieved through collaboration, shared vision and unwavering determination,” Mponda said.
The programme was implemented with support from Young Africa International and Oak Foundation Zimbabwe in partnership with the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training.
In 2025, 164 youths from Gweru and Shurugwi completed vocational courses, while another 40 were trained in Chiwundura under a programme supported by Terre Des Hommes BMZ.
Mponda highlighted that the training focused on practical, market-relevant skills designed to help young people establish sustainable livelihoods.
“These are not just skills, they are tools for empowerment, enabling young people to support their families and contribute meaningfully to national development,” he said.
To ease the transition from training to self-employment, all graduates received start-up kits funded by Young Africa International, allowing them to immediately venture into income-generating activities.
MASO also established a Skills Hub to strengthen vocational training and practical learning, a facility expected to boost youth empowerment initiatives across the Midlands province.
Beyond vocational training, the programme incorporated climate-smart agriculture and diversified livelihood initiatives designed to strengthen community resilience.
Encouraging the graduates to utilize their new skills, Mponda described them as “artisans, innovators, entrepreneurs and change-makers”.
“The skills you have acquired represent independence, dignity and opportunity,” he added.
MASO pledged to continue expanding vocational training programmes and strengthening partnerships aimed at empowering more young people across the province.
