MORE than 15,000 people including hundreds of patients and staff in five major health facilities, spanning four districts, are set to benefit from reliable, safe and clean water supply, Save the Children has said today. The organisation is also seeking to set up more young people on the path to self-reliance through vocational training, in two separate projects funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation.
By Staff Reporter
The water project seeks to provide the five health facilities, which also serve as COVID-19 isolation centres, with clean and safe water for their operations, hygiene and domestic use. Save the Children said that installation of solar powered piped water systems, complete with water storage tanks at two referral hospitals— Maphisa District Hospital in Matobo and Siakobvu Rural Hospital in Kariba— is already underway. Three Rural Health Centres, Msampakaruma in Kariba, Chikwarakwara in Beitbridge, and Chinego in Binga District will also receive the same support.
The five health centres serve approximately 15,000 people in their catchment areas, a clear indication of their significance and the overall impact of the project. Community members living next to the health facilities will also have access to the piped water.
As the rate of unemployment and skills mismatch remain high in Zimbabwe, about 3,800 unemployed youths, from Beitbridge and Matobo districts, will benefit from the program. Dubbed “Tomorrow is Brighter”, the young people will be empowered, through vocational skills training such as poultry production, building, welding, goat and sheep production, Farm Feed Formulation, and marketing. Upon completion, at least 400 young people will receive starter kits to start off their income generating projects in groups.
The project aims at diversifying income sources for rural households, creating employment, and reducing illegal and unsafe migration by youths to neighbouring countries. The majority of youths in these two districts have limited opportunities for formal employment, while those who venture into farming are threatened by the harsh climatic conditions in the two districts.
Save the Children is working with many local organisations which are providing the skills training for young people. The youth empowerment project compliments another project by Save the Children in Beitbridge and Matobo districts, focusing on livestock and crop production.
The two projects are funded by The Coca Cola Foundation to the tune of US$250,000.
Heather Kerr, Save the Children’s Country Director in Zimbabwe, said:
We’re very excited to launch these two initiatives in Zimbabwe, where needs are vast and resources scarce. In view of the ongoing global pandemic, the water project will support the health staff and surrounding communities in the fight against COVID-19. But beyond COVID-19, health facilities require water for all operations especially in the delivery wards; they need water in the laundry, kitchen and for drinking by the staff, patients and the community.
Our “Tomorrow is Brighter” project will make a difference in equipping young people with life-changing skills and getting them ready to face the world with more hope and confidence.”
Saadia Madsbjerg, President of The Coca-Cola Foundation said, “Our funding for these two programs in Zimbabwe is helping to strengthen the economic resilience of Zimbabwean youth while also helping to improve the overall quality of life through the provision of clean and safe water.
We are proud to support these programs because we recognize the difference they can make in these four communities.”
Speaking during the handover event, Coca-Cola Zimbabwe Franchise Manager, Archbold Ndlovu said the two projects were in line with our new Africa focused sustainability platform that Coca-Cola Africa Operating Unit and its bottling partners launched last month known as JAMII.
“The platform houses the Company’s existing and new sustainability initiatives. Through this signature platform, Coca-Cola hopes to attract like-minded partners to help accelerate on-the-ground impact of its initiatives. This new platform will build and expand on our past accomplishments in three areas: water stewardship, the economic empowerment of women and youth and waste management.
“I must say that in Save the Children we have found such a like-minded partner here in Zimbabwe. Our partnership with them that we are officially kickstarting today is addressing two of these pillars – giving access to safe water and creating economic opportunities for people in need especially our youth,” he said.
He added that they have a responsibility to make a meaningful difference – to empower and protect the communities and the environment in which we operate. JAMII, is a Swahili word that means Community, Society, People – because it represents who we are as Africans and aligns with our values as an organization- our resilience, our commitment, and our spirit of community.
“Together with Save the Children we are partnering to promote JAMII and sustainable growth in Zimbabwe.The youth economic empowerment project dubbed ‘Tomorrow is Brighter’ will see at least 400 young people supported to start income generating projects ranging from poultry production, building, welding, and farm feed formulation among others that will promote and stimulate entrepreneurship opportunities for them.
The water project will benefit about 15,000 people and also contribute to the fight against the spread of COVID-19 in the country as it will also provide communities neighboring the five health centers with access to piped water.I believe these two projects will impact the communities and the youth in a big way as it will improve their overall quality of life. We look forward to a successful implementation of the two projects and hearing powerful the impact stories as a result.”
