Zimpapers Logo

Simbarashe Mutizwa
YOUNG people in Zimbabwe and around Africa live in a world of socio-economic inequalities.

A majority face challenges in accessing quality education and proper health care, while others have been affected by HIV, human rights and economic development issues.

These factors are a stumbling block between young people and realising their dreams.

Many in Africa and around the world are deeply passionate about attempting to solve challenges confronting their communities, but often feel powerless or irresolute on how to make a difference.

Established in 2010 by a group of young people, United Children of Africa (Unica) is aimed at uplifting the livelihoods of children and youth in Africa through supporting communities.

Douglas Musiringofa, founder and director of Unica, is convinced his organisation is set to make a breakthrough in the Matabeleland region and the country as a whole in addressing problems being faced by young people.

Unica has managed to harness young people’s passion for social change and equipping them with skills and resources to fight poverty and HIV/AIDS among other challenges.

Musiringofa said Unica has played a critical role in contributing to the country’s infrastructural development through building and renovating youth and child centres and schools, an improvement which is in line with the countries’ economic blueprint, Zim-Asset.

In Victoria Falls, Unica is leaving no stone unturned by developing sustainable children and youth programmes. With almost sixty percent of the population in the resort town being youths, there is need to establish community recreational centres that will accommodate young people’s desires and needs so that they realise their dreams.

Although young people are living in the shadow of multiple problems, Unica has embarked on deliberate activities to engage youths and keep them away from spending their spare time in risky places.

For most young people, indulging in early sexual activities, being involved in criminal activities and spending time in environments that expose them to alcohol and drug abuse has become the order of living.

“In 2012, we realised that there were no recreational centres for young people in our community and thus we launched a child centre in Chinotimba, equipped with indoor and outdoor games for children aged 5 to 15.

“The centre is targeting youth and acts as a recreational hub bringing youths out of risky places they might otherwise find themselves in due to lack of entertainment and employment opportunities,” said Musiringofa.

The centre has a wide stock of educational resources and an internet facility for research purposes and has become a useful hub for both O and A-Level students in their studies.

After the realisation that students were studying on their own, the organisation then resorted to employing a tutor to assist with their studies.

Musiringofa said the success of Unica’s first child centre paved way for the construction of another centre in Sizinda village of Chidobe Ward 20km from Victoria Falls.

“The Sizinda rural community donated land for the construction of the centre and community members have mobiliSed themselves by collecting local building material such as bricks and river sand.

“The centre has more space than the one we have in Victoria Falls and we are hopeful that young people from around this rural community of Sizinda are going to find it helpful. This centre which will also be a camping site for youth capacity building initiatives will be composed of a community hall, offices, early childhood development centre, professionally constructed volleyball pitch, study rooms, gym/fitness centre, entertainment room to screen the biggest sport in the world, soccer, particularly the English premier league which is the biggest culprit in taking the youth to risky areas for the love of the game. The centre will be equipped with internet services for research purposes, free indoor computer games for children, free outdoor games that include chess and darts among others,” said Musiringofa.

“In fact, when it comes to children, our idea is to ensure that they are free to enjoy their childhood and ultimately their rights.”

In order for the Zimbabwean economy to register growth in a manner that is both competitive and effective, there is need for the country to undertake work in critical areas such as the development of a robust, elaborate and resilient infrastructure.

The rural community of Sizinda will benefit as the centre will be the hub of all activity in this area. Youth from this community will have the opportunity to meet and share experiences.

The centre will also host weekend sporting activities including netball, soccer and volley between the rural and urban teams.

In May 2014, Unica partnered with the Child Protection Society to launch a new Early Childhood Development (ECD) project, supported by the Roger Federer Foundation.

Musiringofa highlighted that this project is expected to provide access to ECD support services for 4,500 young children aged between 4 to 6 years old. 30 ECD centres are under construction and renovations in Hwange District.

“The project facilitates training of ECD para-professionals or Facilitators on ECD curriculum through Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, parenting dialogue meetings, birth registration through the Department of Death and Birth Registry, health assessments through Ministry of Health and Child Care, and promoting income generating projects to sustain the ECD Centres” said Musiringofa.

The project comes at a time when the government of Zimbabwe in 2013 announced mandatory access of children to ECD education.

From 2012, young people in the community of Sizinda benefitted yet on another programme, the Income Generation Project (IPG), which is still running up to this day.

With support of generous donations from individuals, Unica launched this project to provide income for children at risk of leaving school for financial reasons.

“Each child receives two goats and five chickens for their families to breed and sell so that they are able to pay for their child’s tuition fees and other school needs.

“Once sustainably funding their child’s education, families are encouraged to donate a few chickens and goats to another child’s family,” said Musiringofa.

Unica has experimented with IGPs since 2010 and is excited to look towards future sustainable development initiatives.