The quiet village of Saba Lubanda in Binga Ward 13 buzzed with energy today as the first day of a comprehensive Training Needs Assessment got underway. The initiative, aimed at identifying critical skills gaps and empowerment opportunities, saw enthusiastic participation from community members eager to shape their own development trajectory. Local men, women, and youth gathered to share their daily challenges and aspirations through focused group discussions, painting a vivid picture of life in this resilient community.
Men in the community highlighted their expertise in traditional livelihoods, with farming emerging as a dominant occupation alongside specialized skills like building and welding. “We have the hands to work and the will to learn,” shared one participant, “but we need modern techniques to improve our yields and construction quality.” Meanwhile, women provided crucial insights into their multifaceted roles, detailing how child rearing, cooking, market gardening, and even building form part of their daily contributions to household and community sustainability. Their testimonies underscored the need for training programs that recognize and enhance these existing skills.
A
particularly inspiring session featured Ms. Gamuchirai Nyamwanza and the youth of Binga Ward 13, whose innovative activities signaled a generation ready to embrace new opportunities. From shoe making and solar installation to fishing and welding, the young participants demonstrated remarkable adaptability and entrepreneurial spirit. “We want to turn these skills into proper businesses,” explained one young welder, “but we need proper equipment and advanced training to compete in bigger markets.”
The assessment team noted these valuable inputs as critical building blocks for designing tailored skills development programs.
As the sun set on Day 1, the air was thick with anticipation for the rest of the week’s engagements, with community members already discussing how these interventions could bring lasting change to Ward 13. The assessment continues tomorrow in other wards, bringing Binga one step closer to a future of empowered, skilled community members driving their own development.