Zimbabwean France-based Journalist and Social Justice Activist unveils Youth Hub and Book Club Project

France based Zimbabwean writer and social justice activist, Abel Mavura, embarks on a journey to create a Youth Hub and Book Club Project.

The goal is to create a platform for opportunities to youths in rural areas. Furthermore, it seeks to promote research skills and inculcate a culture of reading in areas where most young people lack access to information and services.

The hub, which is almost at completion stage, will work as a youth information centre, where innovation and research are the core pillars resulting in its existence. It seeks to serve youths in Mutoko and surrounding areas.

Speaking to Newsday reporter, Mavura said, "We have sourced a few computers from an NGO based in France which we believe will go a long way in ensuring easy access to the internet for services for young people in Mutoko who are passionate about development and innovation. After all they want to champion their issues by taking a leading role."

Mavura who is the founder and director of Marvel Acts Youth Organization Trust (MAYO), an organisation that seeks to contribute to the development and empowerment of young people in marginalized communities.

He added that "there was a serious growing concern around drugs and substance abuse amongst youths in Zimbabwe, a situation that has become a crisis as there is an increased number of young people partaking in anti-social and unbecoming behaviours abusing drugs.

Especially crystal Meth, popularly known as gukamakafela.

This to a larger extent has been caused by the fact that most young people don't have anything occupying them. Moreso not having proper rehabilitation centres and strategies to help young drug abusers in recovery and quitting."

The Organization's mission is to mitigate the spread of conflicts, violence against women, children and youths, unemployment, injustice and poverty in marginalized communities. Through capacitating them, they realise their full potential, it promotes behavioural change and advocating for their rights through various interventions.

The author, Mavura believes such initiatives help young people develop various skills. They will also have easy access to services and referrals to which they may otherwise not have had access to, thereby creating opportunities for themselves.

This article was first published by Zimbabwe Portal Newsday.co.zw

https://www.newsday.co.zw/2021/04/france-based-author-constructs-youth-hub/