Yesterday, First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa demonstrated her commitment to empowering and supporting vulnerable children by spending time cooking for over 300 children living and working on the streets. This activity took place at the recently launched Life Skills Development Centre in Mbare, Harare, which was established by the First Lady to provide a safe space for these children and encourage them to stay away from the streets.

During her interaction with the children, the First Lady emphasized the importance of earning a dignified living and steering clear of vices such as drug abuse and prostitution, which have negatively impacted many young girls. As the country’s health and child care ambassador, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa is passionate about the welfare of women, children, the elderly, and the disabled, among other marginalized groups.

At the Life Skills Development Centre, the children have access to facilities where they can bathe and change clothes. Additionally, they are engaged in various projects such as farming and gardening. The fresh vegetables used in the meals prepared for the children are grown in a garden that they helped create alongside the First Lady on the day the centre was officially opened three months ago.

Together with women from the community, the First Lady prepared a delicious, healthy, and nutritious meal for the children, consisting of chicken roast, beef stew, sugar beans, rice, sadza (a traditional maize dish), and dried vegetables in peanut butter. Following the meal, the children were taught good manners and demonstrated their attentiveness by cleaning their plates and pots.

Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa identified and refurbished the location for the Life Skills Development Centre in collaboration with the city council and relevant government departments. It is worth noting that this is not the First Lady’s first initiative aimed at supporting children living on the streets and those struggling with drug addiction.

Previously, she took in street children and placed them in the Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa Children’s Home in Chiredzi. At the home, these children have been able to pursue academic studies and acquire vocational training skills, enabling them to leave behind their previous lives of substance abuse. Some of the children are currently receiving education at boarding schools.

The Life Skills Development Centre in Harare Metropolitan province serves as a hub for skills development projects. Children living on the streets, drug addicts, and those from the community receive training in various areas, particularly agriculture. Furthermore, additional projects such as carpentry, dressmaking, poultry farming, and sports activities will be introduced, while the children will have the opportunity to enroll in short courses at the centre.

As part of her ongoing efforts, the First Lady launched a feeding scheme at the centre, ensuring that the beneficiaries receive nutritious meals every day while working on their projects. She also provided them with clothing. In her remarks, she emphasized that the well-being and upbringing of children should not be a political matter but a shared responsibility for all members of society.