Update from coordinator Sheunesu in Zimbabwe
Project update van 18 juni 2019 door Sheunesu Masuka
What has happened in Bulawayo since the last update? Under the current conditions in the country: a lot!
Not big steps forward, but considering the conditions in Zimbabwe, it’s a miracle that the training center is in use. It may be on a slow pace, but slowly but steady experience is gained in running a center like this, and the fruit of what is being done is visible.
Just to give a bit of an idea of what life is like in Zimbabwe a short example from Sheunesu. He shared in March that he was looking around in Bulawayo where he could get fuel, and when he found a place, there was a queue. He had to wait for seven hours, but in the end got nothing. The price of fuel and commodities are very high. That is also why people choose for quick money somewhere else instead of doing a course that takes time…
Despite the circumstances in Zimbabwe, YfC started with a new batch of chicken at the Vocational Training Center (VTC). This batch has has been slaughtered on 5th of June. 94 chicken out of 100 have survived and were all slaughtered. 20 were already on pre-order and the rest will be sold in the coming period. A company that is interested in buying from the center is very keen on the quality, so they come to do testing (sampling) of the chicken. Compared with the last batch of chicken YfC now made sure not to do antibiotics on the chicken and improved the hygiene and sanitation. Even on the slaughter process they also have strict quality management so that they sell the chicken for a good price and match the criteria of buyers.
The next batch of 100 chicken has been ordered and feed has been bought, so they want to continue the production and possibly increase the volume. That also will help in the current condition in the country: the costs of operation like transport, feed, chicks, electricity, water, personnel, slaughtering and packaging, communication etc. is very expensive, so it leaves only a small margin of profit.
Sheunesu: “We now do not use anti-biotics to the chicken and we also manage the feed in another way, so we do not waste so much. We’re putting more checks and balances and precautions to make sure more chicken survive. We also tried to seel the chicken offals (feet, liver, neck, gizaard, head etc) to add value. Compared to last time, we’ve learned a lot and we did more research and reading on chicken production. That really helps!”
YfC is in contact with a company that wants to order 500, but they first want to have a signed contract before starting. “2 guys are really interested in working here, Nkosana and Prince, since they want to save funds for going back to school. We will have a meeting with the guys on 25th, to work on the plans”.
One of the challenges for YfC is to acquire and maintain good personnel. Last year, the center manager, Florence did a great job in putting together curriculum for the courses and she gave the courses on housekeeping and baking, but unfortunately, Florences left the center due to personal circumstances.
The students that did a course last year, wrote their exams and six of them started working in December as industrial attachment at hotel and at a school boarding house. Some worked in the kitchen of the high school catering for students and others did housekeeping in the hotel. Because of the good performance of the students, the companies wanted to keep them, which is a big compliment. The students have some income now and also their parents are happy that they are not sitting at home doing nothing and wondering around and showing bad behavior, but really have a job and learned a lot of skills.
Regarding the other buildings that the teams have been working on: the fish pond has been tested for several times if it is completely water proof. Unfortunately, the last time they filled the tank with water it was still leaking. After that, the contractor has worked again on water proofing the pond (using Impermo), in order to seal on the cement to prevent leaking. This needed some time to settle. Next week this will be tested again. Sheunesu will join him.
The pig pen still needs to be finished. The contractor will work on the gates of the pens. Some girls that were also there during the project came up with a plan to get pigs through a youth and women’s programme and raise the pigs and sell them. The income received can be used to support girl children.
For the wood and metal workshop they still need to do check up on the list of materials needed for starting a course in a good way. They have received machines and materials from a company in Canada last year, but this is not enough to start the course yet. Of course they also need the teachers for that. They now hope to start with a course in August or September.
Sheunesu also shared he is in contact with an organization from the USA that is willing to supporting them with sending teams of volunteers with specific skills for teaching at the center for about 3 weeks, 3 times a year. Especially since personnel is a big challenge this would be a big support for YfC. More on this hopefully in a next update.
Sheunesu will go to the center in July for about 2 weeks to get the works done on the Pig Pen and the Fish pond and making plans for the next batches of chicken and perhaps alternatives.
