A PROJECT TO IMPROVE THE EMPLOYMENT PERSPECTIVES OF DISADVANTAGED YOUNG PEOPLE IN SHAMVA DISTRICT, ZIMBABWE, THROUGH TRAINING IN CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND AWARENESS-RAISING ACTIVITIES ON MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

In Zimbabwe, 40 percent of the population lives in extreme poverty. Young people are particularly affected, with their future prospects limited by high youth unemployment and inadequate education. Frequent droughts and weak agriculture further exacerbate food insecurity. These challenges not only have immediate impacts on living conditions but also often affect the mental health of young people, leading to increased substance abuse. Preventive or therapeutic support services are scarce.

Urgent Action: Future Perspectives

SA4D is dedicated to empowering children and adolescents to become active and engaged members of their communities. Together with our partner organization Development Aid from People to People Zimbabwe (DAPP) Zimbabwe, we aim to improve the employment prospects of disadvantaged young peple in Shamva District in northeastern Zimbabwe.

Holistic Strategy for Long-Term Solutions

Through technical and practical training young people gain knowledge and skills in climate-smart agriculture. These trainings lay the foundation for long-term food security based on the principle of “helping people to help themselves”. The accompanying sport- and play-based training in entrepreneurship and employability ensures that young people can generate an income from their agricultural produce. The trainings are accompanied by awareness-raising activities for young people and their communities in order to publicly address the issues of mental health and substance abuse and work towards reducing stigma.

Well Integrated into Local Structures

Our partner organization DAPP Zimbabwe is part of the international Humana People to People movement. They are well-connected locally and bring over 40 years of experience in project implementation in Zimbabwe. In addition, our project aligns with Zimbabwe’s government programs, which consider the mental health of children and adolescents a key area of public health. Both the national program and our project emphasize de-stigmatization and the provision of high-quality psychosocial services.