Training leaders in Zimbabwe's Deaf Community

Thanks to your generous donation to our project, we have almost reached our target!  We have continued to train over 40 deaf youth leaders. Once again, COVID interfered when, in November some of the youth and staff were sick and we had to stop all activities for a while as everyone needed to self-isolate! However, those on attachments carried on with their work and many continued with agricultural projects throughout the rainy season.

We visited Becky and Takunda on attachments at local companies. Both supervisors communicate confidently with the youth. This helps to make a deaf inclusive workplace and contact with the supervisors is an important part of the project. One supervisor attended the sign language course at Nzeve and recently passed the exam. Both the youth have grown in self confidence and are enjoying their training.

We have news from other youth leaders. Gondai finished his carpentry training at Nzeve and then his apprenticeship and trade test exams. He is running his project from his home. He can now pay his own rent and buy food and tools for his carpentry business. He has customers from a wide area and is a good business role model for younger deaf youth.

Pretty is also independent. She has a poultry project and sews face masks and other products. She can buy food for her grandmother, clothes for herself, and pay medical bills. Pretty recently bought a new sewing machine and markets her products around her neighbourhood. Pretty shows maturity and is a confident role model, teaching younger girls and taking part in many activities as a leader.

These youth leaders credit Nzeve and in particular the deaf staff for making a difference in their lives. Your donation to the youth leadership project at Nzeve means that holistic skills can be shared, and a big difference made to the lives of young deaf people in Zimbabwe.

Thank you for your continued interest and support for these young deaf leaders.