EIGHTY-ONE students graduated at a colourful ceremony held at our Frontline Institute project in Shamva following the completion of six-month courses titled “Our Humana People to People and Open Future Together”.
The graduates were students under the Humana People to People projects who demonstrated their dedication to development work leading to their training as global activists and advocates in development issues. The graduates hailed from Botswana, Laos, China, Malawi, Namibia, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Together, the 81 students acquired skills and knowledge of coming up with people-centric solutions dealing with local solutions. Staying in rural areas areas, the students were also trained to work in community-based projects upon exhibiting resilience amidst difficult living conditions.
Part of their training course included the Institution’s Trick Cycling programme where for two months, the students and their teachers travelled to the hard-to-reach communities implementing investigative pedagogy as their main method of learning. With this approach, students were nurtured to address real-life issues while the practical exercises boosted their interactive methods of studying, action research, group work and social interactions which proved to be a solid foundation for long-life lessons.
Forty-five students graduated on-site with the rest graduating virtually from their respective countries. Gracing the graduation ceremony were various stakeholders among them government officials, diplomats, local leaders, the media and DAPP staff.
The Frontline Institute is a multi-cultural institution for cultural exchange offering students the opportunity to learn and accept the diversity and oneness of humanity. The Institute also enhanced research skills giving the graduates leverage in coming up with solutions meeting the needs of different communities and current climatic conditions.
Over 60 per cent of the staff trained over the years at the Frontline Institute are still working in Humana projects promoting continuity and sustainability showing staff retention is at the core of the Institute. Around 6,000 people have graduated in 128 intakes at the Frontline Institute since the programme’s inception in 1993.
The report reflects a collective effort that has propelled us to make an impact on people’s lives in Mashonaland Central, Manicaland, and Masvingo provinces. In the year 2023, our presence impacted the lives of 378,675 individuals from all circles of life and we made significant strides, especially in urgent emerging issues like global warming and climate change, as well as the recent cholera outbreak.
Development Aid from People to People (DAPP) Zimbabwe is proud to announce a transformative partnership with the Swiss Academy for Development (SA4D) to launch a comprehensive three-year project focused on empowering disadvantaged youth in Shamva District The joint effort, named “Green Paths for You(th) and the Climate,” aims to empower 300 disadvantaged young people aged 15-24 over a 34-month period starting from March 1, 2024.
At the core of our project is the goal of equipping young people with vital skills in sustainable, climate-smart agriculture to improve food security, nutrition, and income stability. Through targeted technical and practical training sessions, participants will gain practical knowledge and hands-on experience in agricultural practices that prioritize environmental sustainability.
Beyond technical skills, we recognize the importance of enhancing employability and life skills among youth. To achieve this, our project integrates innovative sport and play-based sessions that impart agri-entrepreneurship knowledge and general life skills. By combining practical training with ongoing mentorship, coaching, and provision of start-up tools, we aim to empower participants to embark on successful economic ventures.
A central aspect of our project is the commitment to addressing mental health challenges and combating alcohol, drug, and substance abuse among young people. By fostering awareness and providing support, we seek to promote healthier lifestyles and cultivate a more engaged and resilient youth population in Shamva District.
DAPP Zimbabwe is also focused on enhancing our organizational capacities through this partnership. Our dedicated local staff and community members will receive specialized training on SA4D’s sport and play-based approach, enhancing our ability to integrate these methodologies into our broader development activities. This capacity-building initiative will strengthen our impact and visibility, particularly in the field of “Sport for Development.”
As we embark on this journey, we recognize that the project’s impact extends far beyond our direct participants. Planned awareness-raising activities and community engagement events will benefit the broader project area, fostering sustainable and inclusive development across Shamva District. With 300 young people set to benefit directly from our training sessions and community initiatives, DAPP Zimbabwe is excited to be at the forefront of positive change. Together with SA4D, we are committed to building a brighter future for disadvantaged youth and their communities, creating pathways to sustainable employment and improved well-being.
My name is Tatenda Maunde and I am a 22 year old young man from Mt Darwin. I wrote my form four in 2020 and passed six Ordinary Level subjects but due to financial constraints, I could not continue with my education. I had lost hope for the future.
I was introduced to vocational education training by a friend who had just completed short courses at Ponesai Vanhu Technical College (PVTC). I used to think that only students with lower grades were the ones placed in TVET schools but later on, I realized that those who graduates from such schools were getting opportunities since their skills were meeting market labour demands. I then made up my mind and enrolled for a Tourism and Hospitality long course at PVTC.
I got training on the baking business, making business plans, creating strong client base and social media marketing. Although I am looking forward to finishing my studies, I understand the high unemployment rate among young people in Zimbabwe. Therefore, our training is heavily centered on entrepreneurship skills training for self -employment and I hope to get together with other students to start our own bakery. I believe that there is need for vocational schools to engage industry experts as guests’ instructors to improve student’s skills in line with labour demands.
I want to call upon the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education to establish Youth Employment Clubs, where current students, graduates from different careers and company representatives to allow for continued learning and sharpening of critical soft skills, such as planning, negotiation, and communication.
Ponesai Vanhu Technical College (PVTC) – a DAPP Zimbabwe project now offers Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) accredited short term vocational and technical courses. This follows the signing of a teaming agreement between BUSE and DAPP Zimbabwe on the 7th of December 2021.
The agreement will see BUSE offering certification of short term courses being offered at PVTC which include, Motor Vehicle Maintenance, Building, Computer Operations and Packages, Confectionary and Bakery studies, Garment Construction, Beauty Therapy and Electrical and gadgets repair.
DAPP’s PVTC, with the assistance from BUSE and the private sector developed and designed 7 technical and vocational courses in line with industry relevance. The courses were designed following extensive market research to ensure that students are skilled in accordance to labor market demands and entrepreneurship. For more information Contact us
