Zvishavane Youth Council empowering youth through art

Davison Marenga

ZVISHAVANE – With the high prevalence of unemployment in the country, Zvishavane Youth Council (ZYC) has taken the initiative of empowering youth in and around the town with life skills to prevent them from getting into crime.

Volunteers operating with nothing but their few resources are helping the youth to realise their full potential in various aspects of life through art.

A centre run by the ZYC currently offers visual painting, music, and interior deco lessons to youth and is planning to involve more young people from elsewhere.

“Unemployment rates being high, poverty is on the increase, we decided to help so that youth can avoid a life of crime and build a better country,” said the centre’s vice coordinator, Clifford Mugiya.

Bigboy Marenga, a facilitator at the centre, said they want to introduce more disciplines in their programmes for the benefit of more young people.

“I believe we will soon be having a new teacher who will be teaching traditional dance and another one for cultural studies,” said Murenga.

The closure of Shabani Mine and limited employment opportunities from other mines like Mimosa has created big jobless figures leading to desperation and drug abuse among young people.

Situated at the old swimming pool behind Pick n Pay Zvishavane, the centre is seeking for support from well wishers so that they can expand operations.

“We appeal for corporate and individual assistance so that we can implement all the plans we have to give as many young people as possible opportunities that will make them better people.

“This is not a personal venture but a social initiative people for local people. We need to help the youth so that they can realise their dreams in life, I am calling for the business community to help us in this initiative,” said Marenga.entertainment