Training leaders in Zimbabwe's Deaf Community

In Zimbabwe, the deaf community often faces exclusion from leadership roles due to prevalent discrimination. Addressing this issue, Nzeve is committed to nurturing the upcoming generation of Deaf Youth Leaders, empowering them to become independent and assume influential roles within their communities. This initiative aims to foster a more inclusive society.

In the spirit of promoting leadership among the deaf, Nzeve organized a Financial Independence Session in June as part of the Deaf Leadership Project. The session was held at the Makoni Deaf Club with an aim to equip young deaf individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary for independence and informed decision-making. Despite the event coinciding with Deaf Women's Day, the session was inclusive, welcoming both deaf males and females. - A total of 25 deaf participants from various Deaf clubs attended the session.

Deaf leaders were introduced to games designed to provide a practical understanding of financial management and independence. One such game was 'Bus Stop,' played in groups. The objective was for each group to collect as many 'passengers' as possible and return to the bus station. This activity was purposed to encourage a competitive mindset beneficial in business environments.

Another key element of the training was the session on budgeting where the participants were provided with pencils, blue pens, and paper and asked to draft what they believed to be a budget. Corrections were made where needed, helping the Deaf Leaders to gain a clearer understanding of budgeting.

The participants expressed that they found the training useful for planning their own bussinesses and home finances. One Deaf youth enthusiastically shared, "I now know how to identify business opportunities and how to budget my money; the games were extremely helpful."

The training was a real success and it represents just one step in our ongoing mission to empower the deaf community. We recognize that achieving our goal requires continuous support and dedication. And so, our journey continues as we strive to make a difference in the lives of the Deaf community members.