Resident recognised for inspiring young people

The 30-year-old who lives at Country View, made it to the Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans 2014 list. The list mentions young people who are movers and shakers in their industry.

She said she made the list because of the work she does in the Midrand community.

Zvomuya is a branch co-ordinator at Ikamva Youth, a non-governmental organisation in Ivory Park that is involved in youth education.

She said she left Zimbabwe after three of her colleagues were kidnapped, allegedly, by government-aligned forces. Upon arrival in South Africa, one of the organisations she worked for was Teachers Without Boarders, an American non-governmental organisation.

She later left the organisation, established a good working relationship with the Eastern Cape Department of Education, and enlisted the help of 30 volunteers to train teachers in the Eastern Cape to incorporate peace education in their classrooms.

Of her current position she said, “Ikamva Youth tutors, offers career guidance and computer skills to young people. We also help high school pupils apply for tertiary education.”

She said that in 2012, every Grade 12 pupil who came to Zvomuya’s branch either got into tertiary education or employment. In 2013, 94 percent of the pupils she helped passed their exams.

Speaking of her home country, she said she would love to return once the Zimbabwean economy had stabilised so that she could continue community work there too.

Zvomuya said she was very happy to have made it into the prestigious Mail & Guardian list. “I am very excited about the award, it feels great to be appreciated for the work I do in the community.”

Zvomuya holds a bachelor of arts with honours degree and hopes to reach out to more communities beyond Midrand.