“I want to buy myself nice clothes and take of my siblings,”  These are the Marvelous Mazikana’s wishes as she narrates her reasons for undertaking the clothing technology course at Marange Vocational Training Centre. 

For Marvellous, Takunda has brought her closer to achieving her dreams through the TVET program. Being the firstborn in a family of six, she feels the need to her help mother look after the siblings. Marvellous (aged 22) was born with Kyphosis and has a heart challenge. 

She attended her primary school at the local school in Ward 4 of Mutare. She did her ordinary level up to form 3.  FUNGISAI DITIMA, Marvelous’ mother shared, “The secondary school is far; as a person living with Kyphosis, she could not keep pace with other children from the village, often would face the trip from school alone, and at times boys would torment her on her way.” Fearing for her daughter’s life, Marvellous’ mother pulled her out of school.  

Marvellous completed her three months of center-based training on Clothing Technology at Marange VTC.  

She is proud to be able to design school uniforms, work suits, and dresses. Her target markets are local schools and the people from her village. The opportunity to be part of the few participants also gave her a sense of belonging, according to her mother. “Apart from the skills acquired and hospitality she got from the training center, she has had an opportunity to feel part of the community and identify herself with her peers. She always looked down upon herself when left out of community programs,” said a happy mother. 

In the 24 wards of Mutare, Takunda Project targets the chronically vulnerable youth aged between 15 to 29 for vocational skills training. As part of deliberate efforts on disability inclusion, Persons Living With Disability (PLWD) form part of Takunda’s primary target group in TVET programming.