In the face of economic challenges, rising unemployment rates, and the increasing difficulty in safeguarding essential social services, Zimbabweans collectively grapple with significant development hurdles. However, the impact of these issues is particularly severe for young people, particularly girls residing in rural areas, who often lack access to fundamental opportunities for personal growth. As they navigate the transition from school to work, their autonomy and employment prospects remain limited. 

Through extensive community consultations conducted by the TG Silundika Cultural Community Centre (TGSCCC), one striking issue emerged in the small community of Gala, situated in Bulilima District – the pervasive problem of high unemployment and the dearth of disposable income among local youths and women. The shortcomings of the educational curriculum, failing to align with the demands of contemporary job markets in both formal and informal sectors, coupled with limited access to information on youth and women development initiatives, skills training programs, job opportunities, and start-up capital for income-generating activities, were identified as the major hindrances. Women, juggling multiple roles within the community, expressed the challenges they face in providing for their households, given the limited opportunities for participation in income-generating activities. Consequently, they often feel excluded from development programs in their communities. 

In response to these pressing challenges, TGSCCC has meticulously developed this proposal, with the aim of intervening and annually organizing a workshop designed to empower young women and single mothers, equipping them with essential technical skills in sewing, bead making, basketry, fashion design, dressmaking, and basic marketing skills. The ripple effect of this intervention will extend beyond the direct beneficiaries and their families, encompassing entire communities and, ultimately, contributing to national development.