Matobo youths set up clothing manufacturing enterprise

A GROUP of 10 young people from Kezi area in Matobo District, Matabeleland South, has established a successful clothing manufacturing company, which is now supplying uniforms and other garments to the local market.

Harnessing youthful talent through innovation and creating job opportunities for locals is at the heart of the project, which is not only inspirational but showcases the potential that young people have.

After undergoing training in business management and production, the group got financial assistance from the Coca-Cola Foundation in partnership with Save the Children Zimbabwe.

These youths are part of the beneficiaries of the US$250 000 capacity building support from Coca-Cola Foundation which is being administered by Save the Children Zimbabwe.

Under the initiative, Coca-Cola Foundation has availed funding to Save the Children Zimbabwe to finance implementation of lifechanging and youth empowerment projects across Zimbabwe, which include dress making, poultry and gardening.

Operating under the name: “WellWishers Group”, the Matobo youths project was officially handed over to the community last week and now operates on its own with an inspirational motto: “Tomorrow is Brighter”.

The group members said they were now able to provide for their families and contribute to national development through dress making. They paid tribute to the partner organisations and Government support through trainings and facilitation, which gave them a firm start in April this year.

Well-Wishers Team representative, Ms Anatolia Moyo, said they were eager to rope in more youths in the project to ensure inclusive development.

“The project has assisted us a lot. We got the machines and fabrics from Save the Children in April 2022 after we did business management training and business selections,” she said.

“We received machines and a sewing kit including 52 metres of cloth and managed to produce clothes, which we sold and got about 1 410 rand, which we used to buy different types of cloth for the production of church garments, school uniforms and casual attires.”

Ms Moyo said the business was now supplying schools around the community with both primary and secondary uniforms adding that demand for their products was growing.

Going forward, she said they expected to expand the project and assist the community in reducing incidents of crime and youth involvement in immoral behaviours such as drug and substance abuse as well as restraining migration to towns and outside the country.

The Government has already set up a supportive framework to promote youth empowerment and other vulnerable groups in communities such as women and people with disability in accessing funding through established institutions like Women’s Micro Finance Bank, Empower Bank and other platforms.

Speaking during the handover of the project, Coca-Cola Foundation country manager, Mr Archibold Ndlovu, said 3 800 rural youths from Matobo, Binga, Kariba and Beitbridge rural were being supported under their scheme.

Save the Children country director, Ms Heather Kerr, said the projects were meant to improve rural livelihoods and fight gender-based violence as well as reduce crimes associated with poverty. — @SikhulekelaniM1