From high school drop out to business owner

Zvanyadza Chitema at her hair salon in Epworth (Photo: Tendai Mudyarabikwa)

Being a high school dropout did not stop Zvanyadza Chitawa from fulfilling her dreams. She enrolled in Hairdressing at Young Africa Epworth in 2015. Zvanyadza says: ‘each time I went to the salon to have my hair done I would tell my husband that hairdressing is what my heart desires to do in life’. Her husband paid for her to enrol for the course at Young Africa. Zvanyadza is now operating her own business. Her husband obtained a $200 loan from his work to help her start the salon. Zvanyadza is thankful for the Young Africa mentorship programme: ‘I learnt that I must also sell hair products to boost my income’. Since April 2016, Zvanyadza takes home an average of $140 per month. Zvanyadza’s husband is thankful to Young Africa and would like to encourage other men to support their wives to get skilled in trades they are passionate about.