The Centre for Innovation and Technology (CITE) has successfully trained 18 young women from Sitezi and Nyandeni villages in Gwanda on news writing and citizen journalism.
The women completed a six-month training programme under the CITE Youth Network, which seeks to empower young women in rural communities with digital skills, enabling them to create and share community news.
They were mentored by CITE journalists Lulu Brenda Harris, Senzeni Ncube and Tanaka Mrewa.
Certificates were presented to the trainees during a ceremony held on Friday.
Abigirl Khupe, CITE’s Programmes Manager, explained that the programme specifically targets young women from marginalised communities to amplify their voices and advocate for their rights in a challenging media environment.
“These young women have shown remarkable dedication, improving their access to media and their ability to share information,” Khupe said.
“We initially selected 20 participants from Gwanda district, and 18 managed to complete the project. Their commitment is impressive, with some walking over 10 kilometers to attend training sessions. Many of them are secondary school dropouts or teenage mothers, yet they have overcome these barriers to produce impactful stories highlighting the challenges faced by young women in their communities.”
Memory Dube, a trainee from Nyandeni, described the project as transformative for young people in her village.
“This initiative has been an eye-opener. I’ve learned how to write stories and showcase the various activities happening in our village that contribute to community development. We can now market the products we produce and tell our stories to a wider audience,” she said.
Nokuthaba Ndlovu, also from Nyandeni, emphasized how the training would enable them to seek assistance for community development projects and support vulnerable members of their community.
Meanwhile, Aliah Sibanda from Sitezi’s Ward 7 highlighted the importance of these skills in giving young people a voice.
“We can now document and share our stories, ensuring that influential individuals can hear our concerns and challenges,” Sibanda said.
Another participant, Mayibongwe Magutshwa, expressed pride in being able to highlight positive developments in her community.
“This training has inspired other youths in my village, and many now want to learn these skills,” Magutshwa added.
The CITE Youth Network continues to demonstrate its commitment to fostering media access and empowering marginalised voices in Zimbabwe.
