Unfortunately many can never relate with what really happens in such a life, experience is the
only best teacher.
One might get food, clothing and education, under the care of foster parents, cousins or any
other relative but will always miss his parents. The situation may be different however,
depending with, at what age one lost them.
Those who lost their parents when still infants up to toddlers, knows nothing about them and
their love but those who lost them during their teenage years can testify.
But anyway, thanks to those people who had the guts to adopt those children, thanks to those
few individuals sponsoring their education and those providing them education including the
likes of Jairos Jiri, Capota and Danhiko, Emerald Hills among others.
This is however the missing link here in Mashonaland Central with a whole province of
nearly three million people having no “big” institution to assist the vulnerable to attain their
educational wishes, may they be academic, vocational or technical.
However kudos should be given to Memory Siyapiya, a local woman running a vocational
and technical training college for vulnerable teenagers and young boys and girls around
Bindura.
Siyapiya started by assisting just four ghetto youth in her neighbourhood in clothing
technology in March 2020.
She would teach them garment making techniques until they were confident to start their
tailoring businesses.
Two of these were young women who were impregnated but dumped by their partners while
the other two were elder women who were divorced.
She then moved from her house to Bindura showgrounds were she established Young
Generations, a registered private voluntary organisation existing to empower vulnerable
young women and boys to attain different technical and vocational skills.
The college is registered with HEXCO and offers at least four short courses that are Clothing
Technology, Cosmetology, Carpentry and Basic Computer skills.
The college also enrols visually impaired students.
Due to its growing enrolment, its site is becoming overwhelmed by students and has to move
out of the showgrounds.
However according to Siyapiya, though they are also contemplating moving out, they have
not yet found space to settle and establish own structure.
She said the college was offered US$50 000 land by the municipality but cannot resource
such a big amount hence she is appealing to the corporate world, politicians and any other
warm hearted people to help them raise the money.
She has a contract with the Japanese Embassy who have vowed to help her construct the
college once she has secured the space.
“I am therefore appealing to anyone, including the business community, for help to fundraise
the money or, for land donation, so that I fulfil my vision of improving vulnerable people’s
lives.
“Most of my students do not pay tuition or fees, l am just assisting them out of love hence it
is difficult for me to raise the wanted money for the stand basing on tuition payments,”
explained Siyapiya.
At least 23 students graduated with National HEXCO certificates in different courses from
the institution this year in May.
Fortunate Mudzviti, one of the graduands pleaded with the community to get to the rescue of
the “lifesaving” institution which she said raised her from rags to riches.
“I wrote my Form Four in 2019 and excelled in one subject, Fashion and Fabrics. Since the
situation was tense at home, l could not go back to school in 2020, l then decided to look for a
janitor or a house maid’s job around town.
“But while l was looking for the job, l was then told of Young Generations and l visited the
college. I met Memory who took me through all courses on offer and l was happy however, I
did not have tuition again but, she just took me in. Now l am a fully-fledged dress maker and
l really want to thank aunt Memory,” said Mudzviti.
Ropafadzo Mpofu who also graduated from the college this year hailed Memory. She said
she was invited to the college for free and did Clothing Technology.
She called fellow young girls and woman idle at home to visit and enrol for short vocational
and training courses at the college.
She also extended the invitation to boys and young man warning them against using drugs.
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