As part of its community development work Masakhaneni Project Trust in collaboration with Ukuthula Trust built a school dropout reflection centre in Sitezi. This facility will be used for purposes of assisting boys and girls who have dropped out of school to think critically about their future. The program was funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) which works with community development organizations that strive in safe guarding democratic processes, upholding of human rights and bringing peace and stability among communities and nations. Indeed light is the task when many share the toil, the building becomes a baby born out of the community of Nqameni who worked tirelessly amidst all difficulties, the two organisations as well as financial support from SIDA. The Nqameni Youth Reflection Centre was officially launched by the Swedish Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mrs Sofia Calltorp on the 7th of May 2019. The Sitezi community has been empowered to make something out of the infrastructure erected. According to a Ghanaian proverb “a healthy person who begs for food becomes an insult to the generous farmer”. Nqameni has been fortified and given a good foregrounding through this structure, it is up to them to reap the good results.
Nqameni Youth reflection centre seeks to enable the young boys and girls to reflect about their lives, their community and their future, an opportunity that they did not have before. It is a centre that offers a safe space for thinking. A place where a 15 year old girl who would have dropped out of school (due to pregnancy or lack of fees) can sit and reflect on how she can improve her situation and what she can do to improve the life of her child. The centre thus brings different people to support each other as they think of the role they can play in advancing themselves, the community and the nation as a whole. Coupled with this, Masakhaneni Projects Trust working with the community will provide these school drop outs with basic survival skills to enable them to be productive citizens in the community. Young women particularly face challenges and lack opportunities that can help sustain their lives. Nqameni Youth Reflection Centre has come to offer that opportunity.
The launch was graced by the presence of the chief of the area chief Mathema, 3 councilors from Nyandeni, Sibona and Sitezi. Other notable people that attended the launch were staff from Masakhaneni and Ukuthula, village heads, heads of schools and teachers from Sitezi Secondary and Primary school. School children from both schools also managed to grace and participate in the event. After the launch there was traditional music and dance from the locals. The other activities that marked the day were music, speeches and touring of the reflection centre. Below are some of the pictures of event.
The Ambassador posing for pictures with some of the youth that will benefit from the centre
Mrs S Calltorp opening the centre
Mrs S Calltorp with Chief Mathema
Mrs S Calltorp and Mr Paul Themba Nyathi (Masakhaneni Director) giving a speech at the launch