First Lady’s love envelopes Mbare Skills Development Centre

First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa and former street children harvest green maize they planted last year under the supervision of Dr Mnangagwa at her skills development centre in Mbare.

First Lady’s love envelopes Mbare Skills Development Centre

Tendai Rupapa

Empowerment advocate First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa yesterday took to the fields to harvest a variety of crops including maize, which she grew with children at her Mbare Skills Development Centre, which houses children who were living and working on the streets, allowing them to attend school and equipping them with vocational training skills.

Dr Mnangagwa, who has a passion for children and other vulnerable groups, emphasised the need for hard work as she interacted with the children, warning them against social vices and highlighting their effects.

The children, who are in pre-school, primary and secondary classes at the centre, took their lessons in the presence of the First Lady who was keenly checking on their performance.

Also involved in performing arts, the children showcased their talents through playing instruments like drums, rattles, and the thumb piano while others sang and danced as the instruments were being played.

The mother of the nation’s interaction with the children has played a significant role in providing mentorship, developing essential life skills, enhancing teamwork, and making the children grow into self-reliant people.

She taught them various household chores, including laundry, washing dishes, cleaning, and cooking.

Yesterday, the children had an opportunity to put what they learnt into practice when they prepared their meals with the help of mothers from the community while Amai Mnangagwa looked on.

Former street children prepare green mealies for cooking while First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa observes. The maize crop was planted by the children as part of their life skills training initiative by Dr Mnangagwa at her skills development centre in Mbare.

There are many success stories at the centre, including that of a girl whose talent was nurtured by the First Lady and is now playing professional women’s soccer at Black Mambas Football Club.

Dr Mnangagwa sought to know some of the social vices that the children know and how the children reprimand one another in the event of mischief.

“How do you caution someone who will be misbehaving?” she asked. In response, a boy said: “We sit him down and tell him that you are ruining your life. Better follow the good morals we are being taught by our mother, the First Lady.”

Dr Mnangagwa weighed in, expressing her love for the children.

“I love you my children that is why I took you from the streets, so that you grow up morally upright. As a mother, I want to work with disciplined children who do not take drugs or engage in naughtiness,” she said.

The learners also expressed gratitude to the mother of the nation for her benevolence.

“We love you Mhamha for sending us to school,” a child at the centre said.

Another one praised the First Lady for restoring their dignity.

“Mhamha, previously we would be ridiculed wherever we went and were accused for all thefts even when we were not present, pese pataipfura vanhu vaibata homwe nemhino vachiti tiri kunhuwa but Mhamha you embraced us, you are not selective and showed us motherly love.

“You bathed us, clothed us and sheltered us. You also gave us a chance to go to school as education is key.”

First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa interacts with a girl after she finished eating during lunch prepared by former street children after training at the skills development centre in Mbare. The girl had earlier told Amai Mnangagwa that she is a child and should be forgiven if she fails to finish her food.

His colleague also thanked the First Lady for initiating projects for them.

“Amai, we are happy for the projects you initiated here for us. We are now selling our produce like tomatoes, vegetables, and chickens. We are also involved in recycling and making money.

“Today we are glad you came to harvest with us the maize that you helped us grow. You have also come to spend the day with us,” he said.

Amai Mnangagwa expressed love to the children and in return they shed tears of joy as they told her how much they appreciated her for her love and kindness.

After interacting with the children, she then started harvesting the maize with the children before proceeding to the kitchen where the children and community mothers were cooking.

They prepared chicken, beef, sugar beans, dried vegetables, cabbages, rice, sadza and green mealies. Most of the food cooked is from the centre.

The chickens are reared at the centre where the vegetables are also grown and dried.

The female soccer player, Mercy Gada, had words of advice to her peers.

She said she grew up in the streets and later learnt of the First Lady’s Skills Development Centre.

“I seized the opportunity and came along to live at the centre. The First Lady spoke to us, asking us what we are capable of doing in our lives, like sports, catering, and sewing.

“I am among the girls who had a vision to play women’s soccer. The First Lady encouraged me to play soccer to nurture my talent. She facilitated that I joined Black Mambas Queens where I am playing football.

“I thank the First Lady very much for what she did for me in my life and I am seeing that my life is changing, unlike in the past. I, therefore, encourage others not to suppress their talents because they can make it in life.

“I encourage people to leave drugs. If I were into drugs, I would not be where I am today and I would not be playing soccer,” she said.

Mr Joseph Rukara, who is taking the children through dressmaking lessons at the centre, praised the First Lady.

First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa interacts with a boy after he finished eating during lunch prepared by former street children after training at the skills development centre in Mbare.

“I thank the First Lady for the work that she is undertaking in this community. Mbare can be viewed as Sodom and Gomorrah, but it is changing because of the mother of the nation. Some children from around the community are also coming seeking to learn and doing vocational skills.

“We have over 40 children who are here learning to sew and I thank the First Lady for her great love, wishing that the Lord grants her more years on earth,” he said.

Equally delighted were the children. One of the beneficiaries who identified himself as Admire said he was at a loss for words.

“I just do not know how best I can thank the First Lady for what she is doing to most of us children who were living and working on the streets. She took us from the abyss and is showing us the correct path to follow. I never thought I would acquire decent education like other children of my age, but this has come to pass because of the First Lady. I glorify God for giving us such a loving mother,” he said.

Another beneficiary said she was glad to have learnt to use her hands to earn a living.

Former street girls sweep the floors showing the skills they were taught by First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa at her skills development centre in Mbare yesterday.

“I thank the First Lady heartily for bringing us here and equipping us with life skills. I am delighted I can now raise chickens and grow vegetables all because of the First Lady’s love.

“I had been left without an option but to venture into prostitution owing to the challenges we encountered on the streets. This, however, is now a thing of the past because the First Lady took me and washed me of those ill-thoughts. She taught me to be morally upright and use my own hands to earn a decent living,” she said with happiness.

Prostitution, drug abuse, and petty crimes used to be part of the children’s lives until Amai Mnangagwa, who has a passion for the total empowerment of children, gave them a new lease of life. – Herald