Plan International Zimbabwe launches a Digital Skills 4 Youth Project
Plan International Zimbabwe, in partnership with the Impact Hub, has launched a Digital Skills 4 Youth Project which aims to equip young people with digital skills that will help them launch their businesses.
The project is targeting to reach at least 1,680 young people between the ages of 18 and 30 years, focusing on Harare, Mutare, Bulawayo, Chiredzi, and Tsholotsho. Selected young people will receive digital skills training at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.
Speaking at the program launch at Tariro Youth Centre in Hopely, Plan International Zimbabwe Country Director Peter Van Dommelen said that empowering young people with skills will enhance their participation in economic and decision-making, ensuring they are equal contributors in today’s diverse economy.
“Zimbabwe seeks to significantly reduce child marriages and unplanned youth pregnancies by empowering girls and young people to become more responsible and engaged citizens. The Digital Skills 4 Youth project aligns with this goal, as it equips young women with skills that can sustain their lives, ensuring they do not view marriage as an escape from poverty.
“In today’s rapidly digitizing world, digital skills are no longer a luxury—but a necessity. Without these skills, our youth risk being left behind in the very economies they are meant to lead.”
Zimbabwe has a highly informalized economy, with the majority of youths unemployed. Self-employment has become the go-to route for most school leavers, and digital skills offer a trade in itself and also a beneficial skill set in business.
Speaking at the same occasion, the Swedish Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr. Per Liindgarde, said his Embassy was happy to be supporting the enhancement of digital skills among youths and hoped the growth potential of the digital economy presented an opportunity for tackling the youth unemployment challenge.
“Digitalization is one of the most transforming opportunities of our time. The project aims to enhance sustainable, productive economic development for youth, particularly young women, in a supportive environment for digital skills, entrepreneurship, and employment in targeted areas,” he said.
The Digital Skills 4 Youth Project is a three-year project that started in 2023 and is targeting about 3,000 indirect beneficiaries, working together with the Ministry of Youth and the Catholic University, which developed the modules and curriculum.
The training has also provided a safe space for young mothers to gain skills in computer literacy, Python programming, coding, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), among others, while their children are taken care of by onsite carers.
Plan International program manager Mr. Chigodo said the training will give youths practical skills that are in line with modern-day demands.
“These trainings run for 3-4 months; thereafter, the youths will be given a Google certificate based on their level of competence. The curriculum and modules used for the training were developed after market research to determine the kind of skills required in the industry and needs by the youths to survive in the digital era,” he said.
For the rural youths, specific needs assessments were done to identify possible value addition opportunities for support to ensure no one is left behind.
Plan International Zimbabwe launches a Digital Skills 4 Youth Project
