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Three Form Two students from Cornelius Hope Academy Secondary School in Good Hope, Harare, last Friday launched a motivational book.

The three students – Progress Jefure, Nenyasha Gwenyaya and Hazel Jani, all aged 14 and members of the school’s Young Writers’ Club – began writing the book when they were in Form One.

Entitled The Road to Success, the book was launched at the Harare International Conference Centre last Friday during an event hosted by the Pentecostal Assemblies of Zimbabwe (PAOZ)’s Hope Community Church in Good Hope.

Guest of honour, the Presiding Bishop of PAOZ, Bishop Never Muparutsa, commended the three students for writing the motivational book at a time when so many youths have lost hope and are engaged in anti-social acts and delinquency.

Bishop Muparutsa spoke on the need for a change in the mindset of youths as they have a lot to learn from their peers who launched the book, thereby setting a good example of role models.

He thanked the school staff for producing such a good crop of students and for the inspiration they gave the three to write the book.

Bishop Muparutsa also thanked the families of the students for supporting their children during the process of writing the book.

He said: “The book launch has raised the school flag and that of the Village of Hope high, more so that of PAOZ.”

PAOZ Hope Community Church’s Bishop Munetsi Zowa, said he believed in the dream that the students had when they came to his office to show him what they were working on.

He expressed his gratitude to the teachers for the guidance and to the parents of the children for their support. He said the book was written with so much passion and would help others deal with their challenges.

Cornelius Hope Academy Secondary School headmaster, Mr Ambrose Musasa, said he read The Road to Success and can gladly recommend it to others to read it too.

He would not be surprised, he said, if one day the three motivational writers run for public office.

“They definitely have my vote,” he stressed.

The Road to Success is a book written by children for other children.

However, the book is so diverse that adults can also tap into the wisdom the young writers have gathered to guide them on their road to success.

The book seeks to empower teenagers so that they can find purpose in life by starting income-generating projects or small businesses. The writers also focus on easy to read nuggets that help readers to reflect on success and encourage them to work hard.

Explained Nenyasha Gwenyaya:”I wanted to reach out to other teenagers, especially the girl child. I am happy with what we have achieved so far.”

For Progress Jefure, the book launch was a dream come true as he never imagined that he would be celebrated by his peers and other high-ranking people.

The Road to Success was edited by Conceptor Jera Murefu and has a foreword by motivational speaker and lawyer, Arthur Marara and Bishop Zowa. Pastor Tendai Rwodzi endorsed the book.

As part of the book launch, the editor and authors engaged in a discussion panel, which was chaired by master of ceremony, national public speaking and debate adjudicator and teacher, Richard Mazhambe.

The highlights of the evening were the book auction, the signing ceremony and a cocktail.