The church has been encouraged to take part in the fight against drug and substance abuse in the country through offering vocational training services, an intervention that was described as a better way to equip young people with self-sustaining skills that would help to challenge idleness.
This was said by Evangelist Farayi Mujeni of the Pentecostal Assemblies Of Zimbabwe (PAOZ) who is also the founder of Miracle Helping Hand Foundation in the wake of an increase number of youths who are trapped in drug abuse.
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Mujeni said that the church should not be silent in the wake of the drug pandemic while revealing that it is high time that the church should begin offering technical skills such as dressmaking and agriculture, skills which can provide young people with a means of survival even if they are not formally employed.
“We need to work together to crack down the abuse of drugs by young people. The bible says teach a child the way he should go so that when he grow he will not depart from it, so as a church we should take part in teaching our young people some skills that can help them earn a living,” said Mujeni.
Mujeni added: “Vocational trainings should not only be found in academic colleges but as a church we should start offering these services. As a church as we are preaching the word of God we are also preaching against drugs as we are saying no to drugs.”
Some of the parents in the community who spoke to this publication agreed that self-supporting skills were key to address the ill while saluting the church for participating in anti-drugs programmes across the country.
One of the parents Sheilla Moyo said that campaigns that were being led by the church were life-saving for the youths.
“One of the day I passed by a place where young people were being educated about the dangers of drug abuse, I was very happy. I want to thank the church for doing such a splendid job in our communities,” she said
Gerald also said “I wish that such initiatives will continue happening in several communities. Young people are losing their future because of these toxic substances,” he said.
Last month, the Miracle Helping Hand Foundation hosted an anti-drugs campaign in Glenorah which ran under the theme “drugs will drag you down and give you a false hope “.
The symposium saw other organisations including SAYWHAT and Sustainable Agricultural Livelihoods and Technologies participating.
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