The programme provides for skills training for orphan and other vulnerable children, including their caregivers.  Skills training targets the vulnerable groups such as child headed households, young widow’s guardians of orphans and other vulnerable children.

The aim of equipping the vulnerable groups and their caregivers with skills is to make them self-sustaining.  This also serves as SAHRIT’s exit strategy, to economically empower caregivers enabling them to provide for the needs and rights of the children that SAHRIT is paying school fees for and giving basic necessities where required.

For example, a group of 14 young persons from Ward 14, (10boys and 4 girls), who are mostly orphans, received training in permaculture or organic farming for growing vegetables.  This project was extremely suitable for child headed households where there were no breadwinner with a regular income.

The young persons were further trained in growing herbs, useful in treating ailments such as headaches and diarrhoea, and in boosting the immune system.  The herbs were therefore useful to people living with HIV and AIDS.  The trained young persons in Chiremba and Chitsaga villages are piloting the growing of herbs and have already started propagating the herbs.

Additionally two groups of young persons were given instruction in drama and community theatre.  The groups were launched to raise awareness on HIV/AIDS, child rights and related issues, but their formation also served as employment creation initiative.