Apprentices to deliver Hopley’s first clinic
Zimbabwe has faced challenges in extending and maintaining infrastructure, particularly public housing and social service structures. According to the Ministry of National Housing and Special Amenities, there are approximately 1.2 million people on the government's national housing waiting list. There are numerous Government crafted plans to roll out public housing schemes, however, resource constraints have slowed down progress.
6 June 2017
(ILO NEWS) Harare: In a bid to improve access, there has been a growing reliance on housing cooperatives to service land and construct new homes. Even this, has not made the cost of acquiring a home within the reach of ordinary families. Facilities, such as hospitals, clinics, schools and public buildings are also facing a decline in new investments and maintenance. These are clearly public policy challenges, that the ILO believes present an opportunity to create employment for marginalised groups, particularly young people and women. This can be achieved through a deliberate effort to ensure investment in infrastructure is employment intensive.
The City of Harare’s Health department is partnering with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Lafarge in an infrastructure development project to improve access to health services in Hopley. This collaboration is a demonstration of how investment in social infrastructure (clinics, schools, roads etc.) can create jobs for young people.
In addition, the programme seeks to also showcase the delivery of integrated health services that increase access to sexual and reproductive health services among 10-24-year-olds in disadvantaged communities. The ultimate goal of the initiative is to support young people to lead healthy, productive lives through reducing unwanted pregnancies, early marriage, incidence of HIV, school dropouts and improving young people’s participation in the local economy.
These results will be achieved through quality improvements in informal apprenticeships targeting the construction sector. Vulnerable young people in Hopley have already been identified and placed at St Peters Kubatana Vocational Training Centre for training. Fifty young people were placed in trades that are in demand in their community, namely:
In addition to learning technical skills, the apprentices are inducted into a culture of business and networks, which will make it easier for them to find jobs or get into self-employment upon completing their apprenticeships. Another key part of the initiative has been to promote gender equality by promoting the participation of young women in traditionally male dominated areas of work, 56 per cent of apprentices are female.
Kudakwashe Josaka, 22 years, is one of the apprentices, who is training to be a brick layer. “When I failed to complete my Ordinary Levels, I thought that was the
end of the road for me,” she said. Kudakwashe enlisted for the programme and is keen to prove herself in her trade, “I cannot wait to start working in my community and prove what I am capable of” she continued.
Hopley is an informal, quasi-rural district located on the outskirts of Harare, characterised by high levels of migration, poor infrastructure, low education and high unemployment and informality rates. It is estimated the area has a population of 200 000 residents without access to a formal clinic.
The City of Harare’s Health department is partnering with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Lafarge in an infrastructure development project to improve access to health services in Hopley. This collaboration is a demonstration of how investment in social infrastructure (clinics, schools, roads etc.) can create jobs for young people.
In addition, the programme seeks to also showcase the delivery of integrated health services that increase access to sexual and reproductive health services among 10-24-year-olds in disadvantaged communities. The ultimate goal of the initiative is to support young people to lead healthy, productive lives through reducing unwanted pregnancies, early marriage, incidence of HIV, school dropouts and improving young people’s participation in the local economy.
These results will be achieved through quality improvements in informal apprenticeships targeting the construction sector. Vulnerable young people in Hopley have already been identified and placed at St Peters Kubatana Vocational Training Centre for training. Fifty young people were placed in trades that are in demand in their community, namely:
- brick and block laying (20 young people);
- carpentry and joinery (10 young people);
- plumbing (10 young people); and
- electrical (10 young people)
In addition to learning technical skills, the apprentices are inducted into a culture of business and networks, which will make it easier for them to find jobs or get into self-employment upon completing their apprenticeships. Another key part of the initiative has been to promote gender equality by promoting the participation of young women in traditionally male dominated areas of work, 56 per cent of apprentices are female.
end of the road for me,” she said. Kudakwashe enlisted for the programme and is keen to prove herself in her trade, “I cannot wait to start working in my community and prove what I am capable of” she continued.
Hopley is an informal, quasi-rural district located on the outskirts of Harare, characterised by high levels of migration, poor infrastructure, low education and high unemployment and informality rates. It is estimated the area has a population of 200 000 residents without access to a formal clinic.