The ManicaPost
Luthando Mapepa
A GROUP of 16 students from Chipinge Vocational Training Centre majoring in building and block-laying scored a first by constructing two-classroom blocks at Chisuma Secondary School in Chipinge South during their work related learning.
Walking for long distances for O-Level students in this marginalised community of Ward 26 will be a thing of the past as the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education gave the green-light for the school to commence lessons next term.
The project which was sponsored by Plan International together with Ministry of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment took only 21 days to complete.
Over the years, the area experienced high school drop-outs as many teenagers opted to migrate to neighbouring countries before finishing school.
Plan International offered all the construction material, while the youths volunteered to build the block.
The community also volunteered their labour.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony held at the school on Tuesday, the provincial principal in the Youth Ministry, Mr Isaiah Sabwe, said it was their mandate to bring skills attained at vocational colleges to build communities.
Mr Sabwe said youths were encouraged to train in self-sustenance skills in line with the new curriculum.
He thanked development partners for assisting vocational training in various disciplines.
“The ministry will forever cherish such commendable work being done by our youths who work together with developmental partners and villagers have joined hands for a common cause. What we are witnessing here is the first of its kind where students volunteer to build the school during their attachment.
“Youths should embrace these skills because they change lives. If this project we are witnessing today is to be rolled out in every district, our country will move mountains in terms of development,” he said.
Mr Sabwe hailed Plan International and urged other development partners to take heed of youths’ needs.
“Youths are our future and we must support them whenever they need assistant as far as the development of the community is concerned. Youths are encouraged to take up training in areas such as building, carpentry, hair dressing and others,” said Mr Sabwe.
Plan International director for Manicaland Province, Mr Stanley Dahwa, said all stakeholders must unite and work together to achieve their objectives and to stimulate development in their respective areas.
“We encourage stakeholders to work together for the development of their communities. Youths, villagers and development partners should join hands to build their communities.
“As Plan International, we wish to introduce low boarding facilities in such schools to overcome distances being covered by school children to attend classes,” said Mr Dahwa.
District youth development officer, Mr Richard Gore, appreciated the contribution made by Plan International in assisting the school with building material for the construction of the classroom blocks.
Member of National Assembly for Chipinge South, Cde Enock Porusingazi, thanked Plan International for embracing Zim-Asset.
“We are grateful to all developmental partners for promoting the Government economic blueprint, Zim-Asset in rural areas.
What Plan International did together with the community is a permanent programme which will benefit future generations,” said Cde Porusingazi.
