A TOTAL of 46,500 children, adolescents and young people in Bulawayo and Kwekwe are set to benefit from a new four-year empowerment programme aimed at improving sexual and reproductive health, expanding economic opportunities and strengthening climate resilience.
The Umzimba Wami. Ikusasa Lami (U’WILL) project, launched by Plan International Zimbabwe in partnership with the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC), the National Council of Disabled Persons of Zimbabwe and Intwasa, is funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and Plan International Finland.
Beyond direct beneficiaries, the project is expected to indirectly reach about 234 000 people through strengthened community systems and improved access to services.
Project manager Ntando Ndebele said the initiative sought to equip young people with the knowledge, skills and opportunities to take charge of their health, rights and livelihoods.
“The project goes beyond service delivery. It integrates sexual and reproductive health and rights, youth economic empowerment, and climate change resilience so adolescents and young people, including persons with disabilities, can claim their rights and build livelihoods that withstand shocks,” Ndebele said.
He said the project would work closely with government institutions, schools, health facilities and communities to ensure lasting impact.
“Our approach is deliberate. We will prioritise safeguarding, inclusion and youth-led action while strengthening local systems so that confidence, agency and resilience remain long after 2029.”
ZNFPC chief executive officer Farai Machinga described the programme as a timely investment in Zimbabwe’s young population.
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“This initiative comes at a critical time when investing in adolescents and youth is essential for achieving sustainable development, improved health outcomes and a demographic dividend,” he said.
According to Machinga, the programme would help build confident, informed and resilient young people capable of making responsible life choices.
The initiative aims to leave sustainable community systems that will continue benefiting future generations beyond the project’s lifespan.
