Young women empowered through leadership training.

Young women empowered through leadership training

By Florence Zirima

20 young women and girls have graduated under the Leadership Economic Mentorship Hubs (LEMHs) programme in Harare on Friday.

Some of the graduates told this publication that the training has empowered them as they are now aware of their rights as young women.

The empowerment programme is being initiated by Tag a Life International (TaLI) and was launched in 2018 with the aim of empowering girls and young women between the ages of 16 and 24.

So far 70 young women have been trained in different thematic areas such as leadership, environment and climate change, women empowerment and democracy.

Melody Gwanunga, one of the graduates said the training benefited her a lot and she will execute her skills to teach other young women in her community.

“With the information that I got from the training I will pass it to other young women in my community so that they know their rights”, she said.

Another graduate, Tafadzwa Simango said she was empowered through the LEMHs training.

“I feel so empowered and the training will help me as a future leader who is interested in business”, she said.

Deone Chitembwe who trained citizen journalism through LEMHs told this publication that she will continue to advocate for the rights of young women through writing stories.

“I am going to continue advocating for the rights of girls and young women through citizen journalism”, she said.

Panashe Parangira, a fellow graduate urged young women who graduated to continue empowering other girls and to grab every opportunity that come their way.

In a speech read by the Zimbabwe Gender Commission representative, Ms Atalia Ngwenya said the commission remains highly committed to the promotion of education for women.

“Education for women and girls is one area that is dear to the commission and every institution that works for the emancipation and empowerment of women and girls put education of the same at the core of it’s functions and activities,” she said.

In an interview with TaLI Programmes Officer, Tatenda Tahla said the training of young women is making a huge impact in different communities.

“After the young women have been trained they go into their communities and engage their local leaders and train other girls on leadership and this is positively changing communities”, she said.