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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, [email protected]

THE Organisation of Rural Associations for Progress (ORAP) is keen on reviving the Galaupole Development Training Centre situated in Bulilima District, Matabeleland South Province.

The training centre, located 14km out of Plumtree Town, was built in 1980 by ORAP in response to a request by the local community elders who needed practical skills in courses such as bricklaying, carpentry, and dressmaking among others. 

However,  with the passage of time, the youths lost interest in the college leading to it becoming a white elephant. The training centre has three lecturers’ houses, a hostel, huge oven for baking, a workshop, and a garden. There is a constant supply of water and electricity.

In an interview on the sidelines of a skills training and graduation ceremony last Friday, ORAP board secretary Mr Memezi Nyoni said systems were already in place to revive the training centre and  contribute to the capacitation of rural folks which also resonates with the Government’s rural industrialisation programme. “This place was built by founding members of ORAP around 1980 and it offered various courses such as dress making, bricklaying, and carpentry among other courses that were meant to provide skills to the rural youths,” he said.

“Villagers under Chief Ndiweni asked ORAP to build for them a place where they will be doing capacitation short-term courses and council availed the land. 

“However over the years the youths didn’t show interest leading to the place becoming a white elephant, but we are now committed to reviving the place and make it even bigger.”

Mr Nyoni said they will have twinning arrangements with other institutions like Bulawayo Polytechnic for both expert training and certification of the courses.

“We want to collaborate with tertiary institutions like Bulawayo Polytechnic so that the certificates  can be recognisable while also hoping the graduates will start their own companies in line with the Government’s Education 5.0 position,” he said.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

ORAP envisions empowered grassroots communities of women, men and youth free of hunger and poverty where the disadvantaged communities of women, men and youth should draw up their own plans and uplift themselves relying mainly on their own intellect and available resources. 

Its goal is to see rural communities of women, men and youth enabled to plan, implement and manage poverty alleviation strategies on a sustainable basis.

“The philosophy of Zenzele (do it for yourself) is at the core of ORAP and it aims at building self-reliant communities that are resilient and free from hunger and poverty. Such communities can attain the fruits of development which are nutrition, enterprise and wellness,” said Mr Nyoni.

“These can be achieved by independently or collectively having unhindered access to adequate nutritious food through improving production, processing and utilisation technologies and practices, and diversifying livelihoods and income generation opportunities to live the desired quality of life.”