How 2GF changes lives of youths in remote areas

TANZANIA: EMPOWERING people with entrepreneurship skills is one of the most valuable gifts in life and in a nutshell similar to providing drinking water to a thirsty person, who just wanted a single gulp to survive.

When effectively utilised, such skills can sharpen one’s destiny and there are many people out there whose lives have improved just because they had time to listen attentively and apply such in the field.

It is crystal clear that not everyone is blessed with the capacity to engage in business and at the same time, there are many people out there who need a button to press to get off.

Here is where the difficult part is-because you can have a great idea to do something better, but you lack a platform where you can easily showcase the skills you have for others to acknowledge and tick in the box.

In this case, visiting Focus for the Future Generation (2FG) is one of the reputable non-governmental organisations that are working around the clock to complement efforts of transforming lives of people in various ways.

Just recently, they conducted a fruitful training to a group of youths at Kigango Catholic Church in Mkuranga, Coastal Region where they were equipped with knowledge on how they can make batik and soaps for selling purposes.

The reception was encouraging as about 40 young people turned up to partake in the training with most of them eager to learn and be able to make the products on their own.

It was evident that their minds were wide open ready to accommodate new skills that were being imparted by 2FG officials, who made the long trip simply to share with them the essential lessons.

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Arriving at the venue was not an easy task as it is situated in a remote area where the only reliable means of transport is through a motorcycle commonly known as Bodaboda.

But that was not an obstacle to prevent 2FG officials from accomplishing their mission on the day as they put on the spirit to embrace any type of weather as long as they made a breakthrough.

“As a non-governmental organisation, we have taken a unique approach of reaching out people residing in remote areas where most services do not reach them easily.

“We have seen that these people are usually marginalised when it comes to rendering life changing skills but for us, this is an opportunity because here is where they need more support than in any other place,” said Pelez Nducha, a 2FG Administrator.

He continued: “This training will be continuous for a period one year where we will be closely monitoring them to see how they are adapting until they fully master the skills.

“For today, it was just a launching exercise of the group and teaching them how to make batik and cleaning soap, but in the coming days, we will be schooling them on how to make extra things for their own benefit.

“These people are knowledgeable and are willing to learn new things…this is exactly what is encouraging us at 2FG to extend our wings so that many people especially those in remote places are accessed and helped.

“Also, in near future, each group we have formed will be choosing the nature of business they want to pursue like engaging in agriculture where we can support them in terms of providing seeds, pesticides and other relevant materials.

“Of course, we see great potential in these young people and there is light at the end of the tunnel…most of them are just waiting for opportunities like these to surface in order to reveal what they are capable to do,” he said.

Additionally, he disclosed that they have a three year programme set to operate in three regions of the country which are Dar es Salaam, Dodoma and Rukwa.

“Our target is that in each group we establish, we would like to see positive impacts within one year whereby participants should be able to produce quality products that can be sold,” he said.

In his remarks, Patron of the group Mr. Aloyce Mbonde appreciated 2FG for being the first organisation to provide entrepreneurship skills to the youths at the church.

“In this life we are living, we face many challenges that can only be solved through interventions like these…I therefore laud this organisation for coming here to sharpen our children on how to they can empower themselves. “

The good thing is that this is a long term project and without doubt, they will be able to put in practice the taught skills as one way to uplift their lives,” he said.

He also used the platform to invite other organisations to come forward and support them in other ways hinting that they are ready to cooperate with anyone.

Pendo Mussa, a beneficiary of the first training sessions highlighted that knowing how to make soap is the skill she had been waiting to learn for a long time.

“I am glad that at least, I have an idea on how I can make cleaning soap ready to be sold thereby earning income that can sustain my life… here, homemade cleaning soap is scarce but now, I will be able to make and supply it within our community,” she said.

Also, Pendo thanked 2GF for picking them as beneficiaries of the training saying their presence will have a long lasting impact to transform their lives and that they are ready to comprehend new skills.