GEMS Project: A Ray of Hope to Young Girls
By Isheunesu Gwasha (Communications Graduate Intern)
With a radiant smile illuminating her face, Sharmaine Ncube, a talented 22-year-old from Guwe Village in Nkayi, effortlessly commands attention from behind her shop counter. She gracefully takes the body measurements of a client who eagerly seeks a one-of-a-kind dress for an upcoming event in her village.
Sharmaine found herself facing financial challenges after completing her Ordinary Level examinations and she could no longer continue with her education as she had planned. Her life, however, took a drastic turn when World Vision Zimbabwe intervened and introduced the Girls Education, Mentoring & Support (GEMS) Project supported by World Vision UK.
This project's primary goal is to equip girls with skills that will enable them to achieve self-sufficiency. For Sharmaine, this project has been a life-changing experience, as it has empowered her to become a young entrepreneur by offering invaluable skills, knowledge, and the necessary foundation needed to establish one's business.
Sharmaine was among the selected 98 girls from Nkayi and Mangwe chosen to attend the Empandeni Vocational Skills Centre in Mangwe and she chose to specialize in cutting and designing.
"I have always aspired to be a fashion designer since I was a young girl," she said with a beaming smile.
Following the completion of her vocational skills training, Sharmaine returned to Guwe, Nkayi and started a small-scale business venture in cutting and designing. To kick start her business, she received a box of pins, a pair of scissors, a tape measure, a sewing machine and an overlocking machine in her start-up kit from World Vision Zimbabwe. She is now focusing on selling her clothing designs which have rapidly gained popularity in her area.
Living with her mother and two siblings, she finds fulfilment in the fact that her business now enables her to contribute to buying essential household items. “I can now help my mother to buy basic commodities at home,” she expressed. She has also assumed the role of a provider for her siblings, “My siblings can now look up to me when they have financial needs,” Sharmaine continued.
Looking ahead, she expressed her desire to purchase an Industrial sewing machine,
“My goal is to purchase a bigger machine which will enhance the efficiency of my operations. I also see myself expanding my business and employing other talented designers”
Her impassioned words of advice to young girls echo the sentiment of independence, urging them not to be reliant on others. Sharmaine encouraged other girls of her age to participate in similar training programs so that they, too, can attain financial independence.
“My words of encouragement to the girl child out there is to say be independent, do not depend on someone,” she expressed.
Her journey serves as compelling evidence that with the right support and resources, rural girls can excel and attain financial self-sufficiency. Notably, the GEMS Project has facilitated the establishment of hairdressing and food-catering businesses, and has played a crucial role in keeping girls in school.
With deep gratitude, Sharmaine expressed her heartfelt appreciation to World Vision Zimbabwe and the generous donors of the GEMS Project for enabling her and her peers to acquire vocational skills. Furthermore, she emphasized the importance of extending and perpetuating this program to reach and uplift other marginalized girls in Nkayi.