Empowering Zimbabwe's youth
BULAWAYO, ZIMBABWE – At a youthful twenty six years of age, Ong Nkosani Mathe is a devout Christian, with the well-being of youths at heart.
Raised at the D.C. Camp, Mabuthweni Township, about ten kilometers west of Bulawayo’s city centre. The fact that he is an orphan, who has known true poverty, is reason for his deep concern regarding disadvantaged youths.
Mr. Mathe is currently the Projects Officer at Samrose Trust. His responsibilities entail overseeing day to day running of the Trust’s (ZDDT) training centre, at New Lobengula Township, which in essence translates into ensuring the smooth coordination of its various activities.
Engaged to a lady he would not name, his other love is giving stand-up comedy performances with a Christian element. Mr. Mathe is a peer educator who has worked in this capacity with several organisations, before taking up his present position.
A confessed admirer of ZDDT (The Zimbabwe Development Democracy Trust) and the unique nature of its people centred and proactive work among local communities, Mr. Mathe, (ONM) recently opened up to give a glimpse into his remarkable character and dedication to the less privileged. Below are excerpts of an interview he gave to Field Correspondent, Lewis Jones, and (LJ).
LJ. As Projects Officer at Samrose Trust, what is your outlook concerning the organisation?
ONM. The immediate concern that comes to mind is revival programmes that were discontinued in order to accommodate the more favourable IT facility. For instance, the popular Catering course was halted so that scarce resources could be channelled to the IT training which is seen as having more essential value content. There are plans to start a library for the community at this centre. The Trust is currently seeking books and other materials for that purpose. An added goal to strive for would be the initiating of new activities that will prove to be beneficial to the community, with an emphasis on disadvantaged youth; that of course is besides the commendable computer training currently on offer.
LJ. What exactly do you have in mind with regard to that?
ONM. Many youths in the neighbourhood are very poor, which in effect places them in the vulnerable category. For those who for some reason are unable to do the IT training, it is envisaged that special programmes with a bias towards self-reliance and self-sufficiency, would be developed.
LJ. Can you give an example?
ONM. Yes. A large number of these youths come from vending families, due to the prevailing high incidences of unemployment in the community, which in turn is a consequence of the current adverse economic situation. Most vending businesses are in reality exercises in futility. Programmes could be designed that would provide appropriate entrepreneurial skills to vendors, taking special note of youths caught up in the vicious cycle of unprofitable vending business practices. Using such skills beneficiaries of the training would be able to grow their businesses and possibly prosper.
LJ. What, do you imagine, would be the impact of these envisaged programmes on the community in general and relevant youths in particular?
ONM. The training and subsequent opportunities it would open up to beneficiaries, would undoubtedly contribute towards adding value to the quality of life in local communities. It would certainly be a major factor in the quest to keep youths and indeed other member of society from engaging in criminal activities. That, basically, may be viewed as the over-riding objective in the whole exercise.
LJ. What is short to long term vision for the organisation?
ONM. Essentially, the vision is to transform this centre into a self-sufficient unit that will positively serve the immediate and broader communities at any given time, in every possible way.