Cash boost for deaf youths

THE United States Agency for International Development (USAid) in partnership with Deaf Zimbabwe Trust yesterday launched a US$1 million economic empowerment initiative targeting youths living with disability.

The launch was held in Harare under the theme Empowering young persons with disabilities through economic inclusion.

Acting USAid Zimbabwe mission director Priscilla Sampil said the project would provide employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for young people with disability, and it would run for three years.

“Through this project Deaf Zimbabwe Trust will reduce poverty and enhance decent work and employment opportunities for nearly 20 000 young Zimbabweans aged 18 to 35 years including more than 13 500 young people with disability,” Sampil said.

“USAid and Deaf Zimbabwe Trust will improve the skills of young people in the informal and formal sectors and increase access to loans, markets and support networks in Chimanimani, Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru and Mhondoro.

“The project will promote three broad objectives — access to decent work, employment or self-employment and inclusive entrepreneurship.”

Deaf Zimbabwe Trust executive director Barbra Nyangairi said: “The project seeks to provide practical, direct support to young people with disability which is transformative in the entrepreneurial space.

“Empower comes with five key pillars — skills development, access to finance, legislative reform, socio-economic rights monitoring and entrepreneurship monitoring in order to improve the lives of young people with disability.”