Takunda Sustainable, Equitable, and Resilient Food, Nutrition, and Income Security in Manicaland (Buhera and Mutare) and Masvingo (Chivi and Zaka). Financial Year 2023 Q1-3
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https://linktr.ee/takundarfsa
NOMORE and ANGELINE expressing their joy due to a bumper harvest they experienced in 2023. © Kaizer Makope / CARE
Resilience Design: A Key Component To Sustainable Household Food And Income Security. Cluster E in ward 13, Chivi district, Masvingo Province, is one of the most drought-prone areas in the eastern region of Zimbabwe. The area is characterized by poor soils, erratic rainfall, and persistent livestock diseases. This has resulted in poor agricultural production and food insecurity among some households. As the community identified these and other challenges, through a faci Takunda faciliated the community visioning process that assisted cluster E to identify
common challenges affecting their localiy and the possible mitigation measures. As a result, cluster E prioritizedng climate-resilient livelihood activities, to boost food and income security., a Furthermore, the facilitation processpresented a platform where Takunda introduced ‘resilience design’, an intervention aimed towards harvesting water, increasing soil fertility, and encouraging biodiversity leading to increased income sources.
NOMORE GWENDA (51) and his wife, ANGELINE KUZIPA (40) are communal farmers and face these challenges every day with their six children. Over the years, the family struggled to raise enough money to send the children to school. Additionally, the family had failed to produce adequate nutritious food, which is mainly needed by children,especially those under 5 years. continued .... Page 4
Manicaland Buhera & Mutare Rural
Masvingo Chivi & Zaka
Elias Mahachi. ©Shingirirai Mashangu/ CARE
A Remarkable Transformation Of A Former Troublemaker Into A Supporter Of Gender Equality At the end of each working day, ELIAS MAHACHI’s household was apprehensive as his family knew he was now on his way home. “I was renowned for gender-based violence in my community. I would beat my wives occasionally and for no good reason,” Elias shares. Now in his fourth marriage, he looks back on his life choices to paint an image of the man he once was, “I was a harsh and violent family man who resolved small misunderstandings with a slap across the face without weighing the main cause of it.” His
physical advantage as a man was not enough, “I believed that as the head of the family, the opinions of a woman, ‘my wives,’ should never override mine. As an alcoholic, I carried grievances from the bar. I offloaded them on my wife at home even when she had never wronged me,” a bold admission from Elias from Shonhiwa village, Cluster 1, Buhera district in Zimbabwe. Elias’ confession is not unique; however, it takes a brave and transformed man to acknowledge
alternative ways to resolve conflicts. Following his participation in ‘Training for Transformation (TfT)’ delivered 2022, Elias volunteered for the ‘Feedback between leaders and fellow community members’ session. The session is anchored on the reciprocity of feedback, where community members share comments and observations about their day-to-day interactions with their leaders. continued .... Page 4
Nomore Electricity Woes Whoever said installing solar panels and setting up a solar system is a man’s job did not have Nomore Murima in mind. After three months attending Vocational training at Mshagashe Vocational Training Centre, Nomore (a female participant from Mutare ward 9) is enjoying her industrial attachment in one of the solar companies in Jerera, Zaka.
Training centers (VTCs) like Marange and Magamba in Manicaland Province and Mshagashe in Masvingo Province. Takunda has a deliberate effort toward female participants to increase gender-equitable income amongst the chronically vulnerable youth, girls, and women in Mutare. Written by: Addmore Moyo
In her blue reflective work suit, she smiles her way up the ladder to the roof top while the other two male workmates race behind to install a multi-panel solar system in one of the company’s customer’s office. She is later seen testing the invertor and assuring her peers that indeed power was going through. “It is an exciting experience for me; I get a lot of people wondering how a girl can set up a solar system. Before Takunda, I never thought I would one day be up on these roofs doing Solar installation,” said a bubble Nomore. She looks forward to acquiring more skills during her nine months of industrial attachment and then starting her solar business. USAID Takunda RFSA, through technical and vocational education and training (TVET), targets youth aged 15 to 29 to attend center-based training at local Vocational
MARCH 16, 2023: Keen on taking on a solar installation course, Nomore Murima (21) had no qualms relocating from Mutare district to attend classes at Mushagashe Vocational Training Centre. “When I heard the list of courses on offer, I told myself that I should go an challenge men taking this course too. Now, If you ask me to instal a basic solar system for your house, I can do it,” says Nomore with pride. © Charmaine Chitate/ CARE © Addmore Moyo/ TAKUNDA RFSA