The Sunday Mail
Rudo Mandiro
MR BETHILON MANGAVA dropped out of school at a young age due to financial challenges.
Today, the 26-year-old is a skilled bricklayer, after he undertook a youth skills training programme at Chaminuka Vocational Training Centre (VTC) in Shamva.
Mr Mangava was trained for six months at the vocational training centre, where he and other colleagues were equipped with various technical skills, as well as life skills to unlock their creativity and innovativeness.
After he finished the course, Mr Mangava started doing small part-time jobs around rural Shamva.
He got his first big job at Johane Masowe Vadzidzi vaJesu Centre Zimbabwe Africa High School as a youth volunteer to help construct new blocks at the school under the Youth Build Zimbabwe Initiative 2030.
This opportunity allowed him to put his newly-acquired skills to the test.
The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development, and Vocational Training is spearheading countrywide youth empowerment programmes, through the Youth Build Zimbabwe Initiative 2030.
Mr Mangava said before training at Chaminuka Vocational Training Centre, he had struggled for a long time to consistently earn money.
“Before I acquired skills through VTC it was not easy for me. I used to walk from farm to farm, distances of 5 km to 10 km, in search of part-time jobs,” he said.
He takes pride when he sees one of the new blocks at Johane Masowe Vadzidzi vaJesu Centre Zimbabwe Africa High School.
“Looking at one of the blocks at Johane Masowe Vadzidzi vaJesu Centre Zimbabwe Africa High School, it gives me joy and pride to see that I have managed to build something that brings change in the community I grew up in,” he said with visible joy.
Mr Mangava said because of his new skills, he was able to afford to pay fees for his sisters, who recently completed their ‘O’ Levels.
He also managed to raise enough money to marry the love of his life, and they are making ends meet through his building skills.
He plans to get more training in bricklaying to enhance his skills.
