Hundreds in Mat South get life-changing skills from ZOU, Angel of Hope
ZIMBABWEANS of all age groups should take advantage of the ongoing partnership between Angel of Hope Foundation ( AOH) and Zimbabwe Open University ( ZOU) to acquire free life- transforming knowledge and skills that will benefit them for a lifetime, First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa has said.
She was speaking in Gwanda yesterday where hundreds of Matabeleland South Province residents graduated after taking up the life-changing short courses under the partnership.
A celebratory mood enveloped Gwanda community hall as beneficiaries toasted to a new lease of life.
At the graduation ceremony, which was the ninth since the inception of the programme, elderly women, widows, former ladies of the night, middle- aged mothers, youths and school dropouts, among others, formed a representative group of Matabeleland South Province rural districts communities of Bulilima, Umzingwane, Mangwe, Matobo, Insiza, Beitbridge and Gwanda.
The First Lady could not hide her excitement at managing to bring meaningful change to the lives of thousands of people.
“I am back to share my joy and celebrate with the pioneer beneficiaries of the free empowering short courses programme.
“For Zimbabwe to attain a prosperous and empowered upper middle income society by 2030, no place and no one must be left behind. Ladies and gentlemen, this first certification ceremony signified successful training in free life-changing short courses here in Matabeleland South Province.
It also marks the beginning of a future with a difference as an individual, as a family, as a community and indeed as a nation, for knowledge and skills are undisputed pathways out of poverty particularly for women and girls.
“This is why today I am here to preside over the certification of Angel of Hope and ZOU partnership beneficiaries. I needed to celebrate with Matabeleland South Province on this achievement for I understand that each certification ceremony is uniquely different from others.
Today I am here for the strongwilled ambassadors who will share with others that the free courses are real.
Who knows what tomorrow would bring for Matabeleland South Province.
Go and show off your certificate as proof that the training programme is indeed happening as we are witnessing it today.
More importantly, make use of the knowledge and skills gained to better your lives and that of others,” she said.
Dr Mnangagwa spelt out the need for the beneficiaries of the partnership to be dependable, knowledgeable and skilled resources persons in their communities.
“I am sure that lives of some of you are on a transformative trajectory following the completion of the short course training programme. Today, this certificate you received is a lifetime reminder of your achievement.”
Presiding over eight past certification ceremonies, the First Lady said, had exposed her to unimagined wild celebrations by Angel of Hope Foundation and ZOU programme beneficiaries.
“The voluntary wearing of graduation gowns at certification ceremonies revealed a sense of self-actualisation among all the beneficiaries of the programme.
“Befitting celebratory atmosphere emanating from a seemingly educational achievement of a lifetime, is heart-warming and most gratifying to me. Most of you are getting their very first certificate of training in a particular area from a university.
“I am sure that for most of you, it is your first experience to be in the same space with deans of faculties, professors and doctors, who are at your service as is the case today,” she said to wild applause.
The First Lady said she was humbled to see people of all age groups committing time to education.
“I feel humbled when I see you committing most of your time to education.
“If there are those who looked down upon you, today they should know that you are now in a life-changing path. You cannot be found in places which reduce your persona or be seen in places you frequented before acquiring these life changing courses.
“Well done our graduates and i also want to say thank you to Professor Gundani and his ZOU team. ZOU is an open university meaning anyone, anywhere and anytime can join ZOU.
“ZOU is saying come and join us regardless of your age. It goes to the people, village, district, province and nation at large.
“There were circumstances that might have hindered some of us to proceed with education, ZOU and AOH have given you another chance. This is an opportunity that has come for free therefore, I urge all Zimbabweans of all age groups to grab the opportunity with both hands. I am praying that our graduates will invite me one day to see where the courses would have taken them,” she said.
ZOU Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Gundani praised the First Lady for extending the teachings to all communities.
“Amai, the men and women gathered here are a group of individuals motivated by dreams for better lives. Thank you, Amai for bringing short courses to Matabeleland South Province for its one way of opening pathways to fulfilling some of Angel of Hope Foundation’s dreams.
“Amai, through your Angel of Hope Foundation you are touching lives by visiting and showing concern for the marginalised, no matter their location, status or situation.
“You are always leading the way and bringing in the open marginalisation of communities and vulnerability of people.”
Prof Gundani said his institution looked forward to more intakes.
“The AOH beneficiaries of ZOU short courses are pioneer ambassadors of the training programme in Mat South.
“We are looking forward to more intakes and we will customize other new programmes which are relevant to the region,” he said.
Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Abednico Ncube showered the First Lady with praises for her life-changing interventions.
“We want to thank Amai, the First Lady, for initiating this programme and we are grateful for Angel of hope Foundation for partnering with ZOU. I want to challenge our youths to grab this opportunity with both hands so that they are not left behind like what our mother said,” he said.
The beneficiaries were at a loss for words and could be seen wearing broad smiles.
Mrs Truth Malandu (60) is now a holder of certificates in Basic Counselling and Agriculture, thanks to the empowerment programme.
“We are happy for what the First Lady did when she offered us ZOU courses through AOH/ ZOU partnership.
“I did two courses that is Basic Counselling and Agriculture. Under Basic Counselling we were taught that if someone gets into problems be it death, assault or other problems, some people cannot express themselves in public so we were taught how to get closer and they will be able to confide in you. We are thankful because these courses need money but she made us learn free of charge.
“Nowadays children are taking drugs so we want to assist the youths through counselling and advise to visit clinics.
“Women are beaten in silence so with my counselling course i will be able to assist women in my community. In agriculture we were taught how to rear different livestock including chickens.
“Their manure we were told is also good for agric production. Amai introduced to us as women new programme called agric4she which is a good programme. With the knowledge I received from the course I did I want to farm and come up with high yields and teach others that there is money in land. Agric4she will have competitions and I want to take top spot because of the knowledge I received through my agriculture course,” she said confidently.
Mthandazo Ndlovu (21), representing persons with disabilities, studied Disability Awareness and Sign Language and ICT.
“By embracing us all, the First Lady is telling us that disability does not mean inability. I truly thank her for not leaving the disabled community behind. She is not leaving us behind because we are indeed capable of doing other things.
“With this course, I am going to bridge the communication gap with those who are hard of hearing and impaired of speech using sign language.
“I will make use of these courses to also put food on the table.
“The help she has given us through education will ensure we fend for ourselves through the use of our hands. I thank her immensely for what she has done for me and others in a similar state as mine,” he said.
Patience Matshazi (21) did Nurse Aid and Palliative Care for the Elderly .
“The course will help me fulfil my passion of looking after the elderly. Most of my age mates are crossing the border leaving the elderly alone without anyone to look after them so I shall help them because I now have knowledge in looking after them. The First Lady is important for us because were it not for her, we would not have accessed these courses free of charge. Thank you Amai, you gave us a shoulder to lean on,” she said.