CHITUNGWIZA, Zimbabwe — In a dusty backyard plot in Chitungwiza, about 20 miles from Zimbabwe’s capital of Harare, 19-year-old Tinashe stands beside a rusted window frame. A year ago, this small space was his classroom, where he spent his mornings learning to fuse metal joints under the guidance of an instructor from Teen Rescue Mission, a local organization supporting youth recovering from drug addiction.
The training was funded with a small grant from the U.S. government. When U.S. foreign assistance was abruptly terminated under the second Trump administration, the project ended before Tinashe received the promised welding starter kit — including cables, safety gear, and clamps — or the follow-up mentorship meant to help him find work.
The equipment mattered as much as the training itself, said Tinashe, who asked that Devex not publish his full name for fear of stigma.
About the author
Linda Mujuru
Linda Mujuru is an award-winning independent journalist and media researcher based in Harare, Zimbabwe. She covers development, migration, climate change, governance, and public health throughout southern Africa. She previously reported for Global Press Journal, producing in-depth reporting on how national and international policy decisions shape livelihoods, access to services, and everyday life across the region.
