A Chitungwiza-based young people led movement Teen Rescue Mission (TRM) through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) grant has embarked on a life transforming poultry project which will benefit more than 60 youths in Chitungwiza and areas around as a way of eradicating social ills of drug and substance abuse, youth crime and teen pregnancy which have been on the rise in the country.
Sharing sentiments upon receiving the grant, TRM Director Abraham Matuka revealed that the support will go a long way to establish a vibrant income generating poultry project for the youths as they target to begin with 4000 chickens.
“As young people we are so glad to have received this kind of support from the Canadian Embassy. 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 which is needed and for start we are targeting a batch of 4000 chickens and we will split them into two groups, 2000 layers and 2000 broilers.
“The support is very timely and very resonating with the mantra of our President His Excellency Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa of empowering the youths towards attaining an upper-middle income society by 2030.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 transfor their lives as youths saying “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.
The CFLI support apart from assisting TRM’s agricultural initiatives, it has enabled them to acquire sewing machines, poultry and baking tools—resources that have made the organization to become a vibrant hub for youth empowerement in Zimbabwe.
The CFLI aligns with the nation’s National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) of Zimbabwe which emphasizes empowering youths in agriculture through various initiatives as it recognizes agriculture as a key sector for job creation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth, particularly for young people.
Some of key initiatives enshrined in the NDS2 include; youth-focused land reform policies, financial support, agricultural education and Skill Development, market access and climate resilience.
