It began in 1998 with just two people, a few supportive people in the Netherlands, and a modest $1,500.
Today, that humble start has blossomed into a continental phenomenon. Young Africa Chitungwiza Skills Centre, the organization's first baby established in 2001, celebrated 25 years of existence.
It is a moment of reflection as co-founders Dorien Beurskens and Raj A. Joseph toured the campus yesterday, looking back at a journey that has equipped over 50,000 young Zimbabweans with the tools to carve out a life of dignity.
The Chitungwiza facility was the first-ever training center for Young Africa. Since its inception, it has served as the blueprint for an organisation that now operates in 10 countries. "The journey has been a dream come true," shared Dorien Beurskens, CEO and Co-Founder, while addressing journalists on campus.
"Never a smooth path, it’s a story of hope, resilience, and keeping your focus. When I look back, I think of the students we have put on a pathway to a dignified life." The statistics are as impressive as the stories.
According to Beurskens, an estimated 70% of graduates are now economically active, earning on average four times more after graduation than before.
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"We enable youth to build their lives," Beurskens added. "They are now contributing to the success of themselves, their families, and the nation."
The Chitungwiza Centre is more than just a school; it is a holistic ecosystem designed to remove every possible barrier to education.
Susan Madodo, Country Director for Young Africa Zimbabwe, highlighted the center's unique infrastructure.
To support the most vulnerable, the campus includes hostel facilities accommodating up to 48 young women from remote areas like Birchenough Bridge and Chimanimani.
There is also an on-site daycare facility located just 20 meters from lecture rooms, allowing young mothers to gain skills without having to choose between their education and their children.
The center operates 18 departments offering over 22 different courses ranging from motor mechanics to tailoring.
"Our aim is that we leave no one behind," Madodo stated. "We have implemented our programs in nine provinces across the country, and we are looking forward to the next 25 years."
At the heart of the center's success is its innovative franchise business model. By hosting local entrepreneurs directly in the campus workshops, students learn through real-world live production. This model has birthed success stories like Blessing Katerere.
After escaping an abusive marriage in 2005, she enrolled in cutting and designing. Today, she is a flourishing entrepreneur with her own workshop, five industrial machines, and several properties. "I am managing to send my four children to boarding schools on my own," Katerere said proudly. "Everything is possible if you give yourself a chance to learn a skill."
As the center enters its next quarter-century, the focus is shifting toward sustainability. Under the leadership of Greening Expert Wadzanai Diana Manyame, the campus has become a hub for climate action.
The centerpiece of this initiative is a 20-cubic-meter biogas digester, constructed by the students themselves. The facility converts organic waste into cooking gas for the hostels, eliminating the need for firewood and reducing the center’s carbon footprint.
"We are building green skills within the youth body," Manyame explained. "By making our operations environmentally friendly, we ensure our graduates are ready for the global shift toward sustainability."
The celebration also marked the expansion of Young Africa into the digital age. Beurskens highlighted a new e-learning platform that allows any young person in Africa to learn a trade online, secure an internship with a local entrepreneur, and eventually sit for national trade tests.