Proposal passed, on Monday 27 Oct
Expanding youth employment in Zimbabwe through vocational skills training
Funds required: £2,000
Local partners:
Victor Ngwenya Fortunate Mazarire Cynthia Tomondo Lenold Nhliziyo Owen Nerwanda

Summary

This is a proposal to fund the equipping of Chipinge College of Horticulture in Zimbabwe . If passed, we will equip eight vocational training departments with new machinery, tools, and materials.

The project will directly benefit 130 youth from disadvantaged backgrounds by improving hands-on learning and increasing their chances of employment or entrepreneurship after graduation. If the pilot successfully improves outcomes for students we'll look to continue equipping the departments with more machinery, tools, and materials.

Victor Ngwenya, the administrator at Chipinge College, has seen firsthand how a lack of opportunity pushes young people into drug abuse and risky livelihoods. Since 1995, the college has quietly trained youth in practical trades from motor mechanics to cosmetology, but always with limited tools and funding.

A group of people, including two seated men, pose for a photo outside a building with a corrugated metal roof.
Many of their students are orphans, from child-headed households, or raised by single, unemployed parents. Most struggle to pay even the modest $150 per semester in fees, which the college uses to pay tutors and purchase training materials. But Victor and the team of ten staff remain committed to transforming these young lives.

They've seen students graduate, start businesses, and find jobs in the construction and beauty industries. But the potential is greater. With updated tools and more materials, they could train more effectively and reach more youth.

Why this matters

Zimbabwe's youth unemployment rate is among the highest in Africa. In communities like Chipinge, many young people leave school with no clear path forward. They become vulnerable to drug use, early pregnancies, and exploitative work. Vocational training offers a lifeline, but only if it's practical and robust.

Workers in a workshop with metal bars, tools, and chalkboard diagrams. One man wears a blue uniform, another a bright yellow jacket.
Despite their best efforts, Victor's team is constrained by outdated or insufficient equipment. Government support is limited, and many families simply can't afford to contribute more.

This college bridges that gap. It gives students access to quality training in real-world trades. It equips them to earn an income, support their families, and build something of their own.

What the project will change

This project will upgrade the college's ability to deliver hands-on vocational training to 130 students. With new sewing machines, welding kits, computer equipment, and beauty tools, students will no longer have to share outdated or broken equipment during their training.

A group of people in a classroom working on desktop computers, with a chalkboard and various equipment visible in the background.
Departments like cosmetology and garment construction will see improved practice-to-theory ratios, enabling students to graduate with confidence in their craft. The entrepreneurship and computing units, compulsory for all students, will benefit from laptops and desktop computers, giving students modern skills to start and manage their own ventures.

Workers in blue uniforms and hats are constructing a brick wall outdoors, surrounded by trees and a building.
The result? A class of graduates better prepared for the job market or ready to start small businesses like hair salons, garages, plumbing services, or tailoring shops, improving their livelihoods and lifting their communities.

That's all!

Please cast your vote by Monday 27 Oct, and if you have any questions regarding the proposal you can reach out to the Kwanda team on team@kwanda.co