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Canditar Chapanduka, Chronicle Reporter

GARRY GODDARD, a 28-year-old man from Bulawayo’s Sizinda suburb is the epitome of starting from the bottom as he established a life skills college that started off with six students but now enrols thousands of scholars. 

Mr Goddard owns an organisation called Balmex that he formed in 2017. He formed the organisation with passion to cater for youths – school dropouts and girls and boys who passed their O-Levels and A-Levels but are financially challenged to pursue their studies at colleges and universities.

In 2018 he partnered with the Deputy Minister of Industry Raj Modi and he has never looked back since. 

Minister Raj Modi

Students are excelling at his school because he employed qualified teachers. 

Mr Goddard said students who are enrolled at the school only pay registration fees that see them take up courses such as catering, baking, merchandising, computers, receptionist and tourism. 

His college has churned out students who have gone on to find employment. About 100 have found employment at Deputy Minister Modi’s supermarkets. 

“The Honourable Deputy Minister Modi has managed to employ close to one hundred students from the school who are working at his supermarkets.”

“We provide attachment for our students. However, the length of courses differs. The students also get graduation certificates after completing their courses and graduation is compulsory.

“I am glad that quite an impressive number of people are coming to register for the courses at the school and I have managed to grow and opened another school in Gwanda which has about 300 to 400 students. 

“From 2017 to 2020, I managed to enrol 3 000 students. From 2020 to this year I have enrolled and taught 2 500 students. Currently we are preparing for the January intake. Our offices are in Tshabalala at Machipisa,” said Mr Goddard.

He is looking forward to enrolling 4 000 students in Bulawayo for the ongoing January 2023 registration.I got a vision of growing to an extent of being all over Zimbabwe and Africa with the zeal of empowering and equipping youths. The platform is also open for individuals who want to partner,” he said.

Mr Goddard said his current theme is “Save a girl child and secure the next generation. I encourage youths to soldier up and think outside the box. They have to move out of their comfort zone so that they can realise their gift. Some people may think they can’t make it in life or achieve anything, but I encourage them to man up in the face of adversity.

“Not excelling in their studies at high school doesn’t mark the end of anyone’s destination but a new beginning could be started with Balmex organisation by helping them to realise their potentials,” said Mr Goddard. He said some people are not blessed with academic prowess and are good at doing practical things so it’s never too late for an individual to change his or her life by starting a new beginning but they should hang on and believe in themselves.

“Single parents who can’t afford school can also bring their children to gain life skills with Balmex,” he said.