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Muchaneta Chimuka Youth Interactive Correspondent

INVESTING in young people is of paramount importance especially for national economic development — Kundai Masache (24), is one of the certified Gender Champion, who has been recognised by the Netherlands Embassy for doing humanitarian work for other young people in Marondera where he was born and bred.

He is ploughing back to the community after he got his achievements educationally through the support of well-wishers such as Pro-Tyre Company, Netherlands Embassy among others.

“I’m doing humanitarian work among the youths in my community because I know their challenges that I used to experience myself. I have been distributing sanitary ware in schools and recently I started some chick rearing projects which will be a learning point and some of the proceeds are going to assist orphans and vulnerable children with school fees among other needs,” he said.

Masache managed to get the Gender Champion recognition sometime in November last year and is being assisted with fees to proceed with his education.

“I have recently enrolled with the University of Zimbabwe where I am studying law. My hope is to become a lawyer, hence I will be representing some members of the communities that would be facing legal issues for justice to prevail. I am a philanthropist, public speaker and an author and publisher of several books which include:’HOPE, A Letter to My Unborn Child’ among others,” he said.

The book mainly focuses on the teachings that have been learnt by Masache  throughout his life.

“I used my long life experiences which are worth noting as lessons to many.

As a person driven by passion to share his life experiences, the story is told from a first person point of view. The reader ought to connect with his feelings, emotions and inner thoughts,” he said.

The book is a manifesto of Masache ’s sixth sense which explores a part of himself that is intriguing, educational, emotional and exciting to read.

He dwells more on issues to do with resentment from one’s childhood, anxiety, depression, gender based violence, poverty, kindness, hope and change, while paying close reference to his life.

“I sought to create a relatable relationship between the reader and the story.

In this book,  tell a good story, in a good way that will touch and influence change in generations,” he added.  The book will be launched on the 29th of July 2023.

Last week Masache i launched Shamwari Yepedyo learning centre in Marondera with the aid of The Netherlands Embassy.

The centre seeks to provide technical knowledge on egg production with professional tutoring from Profeeds.

Masache said the main agenda of the centre is to curb gender based violence by creating awareness and guaranteeing food nutrition and security through capacity building, inclusive participation of both genders by promoting financial and technical empowerment for both young men and women in Marondera.

The official launch of the centre was graced by Masache’s mentor, Tracey Hunter, who is the owner of Associated Tyres and Pro-Tyre Fitment Centres.

Earlier this year, through the help of his another mentor, Faith Zaba, the young man was awarded a scholarship by Hunter in recognition of the work he has been doing with his organization.

He has created a wide and strong network that allows him to donate various items in different rural communities. He is also the founder of a youth led trust called the WorldChange Organisation, (WOCO) that was established in 2019.

“I use spoken word and advocacy through radio, newspapers, magazines, social media and TV in influencing change in behaviour by encouraging young people to exercise random acts of kindness.

The major thrust being on care giving, women empowerment and advocacy,” he said.

WOCO has been actively creating safe spaces for young women in rural areas of Zimbabwe.

As a young man who spent most of his childhood in a small farming village of Kwayedza, Masache saw the plight young women faced when it came to sanitary wear, education and being awarded a decent shot at life. Masache  shares memories of having to see young girls using cow dung, rags and banana leaves as sanitary wear.

To date, his organization has made successful partnerships with various companies.

“My future plan is to initiate recycling programmes indifferent communities as a way to curb climate change and environmental-littering among other things.

Masache  hopes for a society that is full of compassion, kindness, gender sensitivity, innovation and honesty. In July 2022, he travelled to Samahuru in Tsholotsho where they donated more than 1 000 packets of pads, detergents and education on menstrual Hygiene.

The impact made is huge as they assisted some young women who would have had to travel 80km to access sanitary ware, detergents and more-so education on menstrual hygiene.

The ultimate goal being to exercise random acts of kindness.