A community initiative in Dete, Matabeleland North, is helping young people build life skills and pursue careers through mentorship programmes aimed at reducing vulnerability linked to rural poverty and substance abuse.
The Tikobane Trust, working with the Global Sojourns Giving Circle (GSGC), runs girls’ and boys’ clubs for 55 young people in the settlement, which lies on the edge of Hwange National Park.
Project leaders say the initiative is designed to provide guidance, academic support and exposure to career opportunities in a region where economic prospects are often limited and tourism remains the main source of income.
Girls Club mentor Thembelihle Dlamini said the programme combined academic support with personal development and life skills training.
“We are not just teaching books; we are empowering these girls with essential life skills,” she said. “We assist them with their academic performance through extra lessons and crash programmes. Beyond the classroom, we focus on helping them maintain good social behaviour.”
She said 15 young women had already graduated from the programme and returned as mentors, strengthening its long-term impact.
“We want them to understand their value so they do not fall prey to drug and substance abuse,” she added.
The Trust also organises visits to hospitality and tourism facilities to expose learners to potential careers in the sector.
“We take them to these facilities to generate real interest in careers in that industry,” Ms Dlamini said. “It is about showing them that these opportunities are within their reach.”
The programme has gained support from parents, who say it is helping to improve discipline and focus among children.
Thandiwe Sibanda, a parent whose daughter is enrolled in the club, said she had noticed significant changes.
“Before she joined, I was worried about her future and the company she kept,” she said. “Now I see a focused girl who speaks with confidence. The mentorship has given her direction.”
Another parent, Godfrey Moyo, said the initiative was also reinforcing positive behaviour in the community.
“It is not just about passing exams; it is about raising a child who respects herself and her community,” he said.
The Tikobane Trust says it hopes to expand the programme as demand grows, arguing that sustained mentorship can help shift long-term outcomes for young people in rural communities.