The Sunday News
Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
SHEPHERD Nyambayo from Bulawayo never dreamt that one day his efforts to improve the lives of vulnerable groups in society and people living with HIV and Aids would lead him to be selected to visit the United States of America.
The young philanthropist who is the director of the Nehemiah Aids Relief project will during the next six weeks be in the USA for the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) programme which is the brain child of former US President Barack Obama.
YALI aims to invest in the next generation of African leaders. Annually the Mandela Washington Foundation which sponsors YALI, identifies young African leaders to visit the USA for academic instruction, practical experience and mentorship in the field of public management, civic leadership and business entrepreneurship. The young leader said he was not aware of YALI until last year.
“I did not know about YALI until I attended a meeting where there was an HIV activist who encouraged us to apply especially those that were interested in changing communities. I applied and I was successful,” he said.
He will be joined by 42 other locals who were also selected as part of the programme. Mr Nyambayo said the visit to the USA will accord him the opportunity to learn from those that already have the experience and bring that knowledge back to Zimbabwe and improve livelihoods.
“It is also a chance to network with our peers from around Africa as there will be 700 people from Africa. It’s a chance to get good mentorship too as we do not have many opportunities to get one back home. We will also learn how to do our work more efficiently from the people who have been doing it for years, we will be able to see what works for us and what does not,” he said.
Mr Nyambayo said youths should dream big and not allow other people’s experiences to deter them from achieving their goals.
“Some of the things considered impossible before are now doable, you have to keep working towards your passion and not let yourself be distracted by others,” he said.
Mr Nyambayo who is also into civic engagement said the vision of his organisation was to see a caring and compassionate HIV/Aids free society. The Nehemiah Aids Relief Project started in 2001 with the aim of assisting people living with HIV/Aids.
“Back then there were not many interventions with regards to this problem so we came in initially to care for those neglected by their relatives. We had to identify them and provided home-based care services then we moved to providing nutrition and access to treatment,” he said.
The organisation began operating in Sauerstown and Cowdray Park in Bulawayo.
“In the groups they do income generation projects such as food processing and we exhibit at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair. Last year the National Aids Council awarded us for our project where we smelted scrap aluminum and moulded it into three legged pots. These were popular in the high density and rural areas where electricity is a challenge,” said Mr Nyambayo.
He said women would pick up cans and smelt them to make kitchen utensils.
Later the organisation started paying fees for orphans and vulnerable children and so far has 1 500 on its books.
On his return from the USA, Mr Nyambayo said he hopes to complete the construction of a youth community centre in Cowdray Park.
