Bigboy Murenga
Shumirai Zhou
ZVISHAVANE – The Zvishavane Youth Centre (ZYC) has this term sent two of the youth under its care to school through one of its 14 programmes, ‘Giving Second Chance in life’.
ZYC coordinator Bigboy Murenga said the centre recognised the fact that education was a basic right that must be extended to those who are less fortunate.
“Sending the two teen mothers to Midlands Universal College is the first step that the centre has made to contribute to youth empowerment. We do not have adequate resources but we capitalise on the limited individual resources we have.
“We implore the community to ask themselves what is their contribution towards youth empowerment and development,” said Murenga.
He said ZYC has drafted a homeless children development programme as part of strategies to reduce the number of homeless children in Zvishavane.
Clifford Mugiya, who is the ZYC facilitator, described the two teen mothers as pioneers of the youth centre and said that the development would make them an inspiration for other girls in similar circumstances.
“These young mothers fell pregnant after finishing their grade seven so they dropped out of school but unlike other youths with the same challenge, they have been given a second chance to continue with their education.
“Besides them going to school we are giving them life skills. We teach them how to take care of their babies, how to interact with other people and how to manage their households among others,” said Mugiya.
The two young mothers said they do not face any challenge concerning their babies as they are given a break at school to return to the centre to breastfeed their children.
The centre has managed to find a nanny to take care of their children when their mothers are at school.local
