ĹBY TRUST BVARANGA
Women in rural areas are encouraged to consider taking up rural tourism as one their development projects. This was said during an Internal Savings and Lending training workshop that was held at Chinyanyeni in Chimanimani on 1 june 2022.
The workshop was coordinated by councilor for ward 14, Johannes Ndiamba and was facilitated by two community based organisations namely Valley of Hope (VOH) and Inclusive Global Organisation (IncGlob).
In his opening remarks, Councilor Ndiamba urged women to think positively instead of waiting for men to fend for them.
“Women should break the cultural stereotype that they are inferior to men in all aspects including income generation projects. We challenge you to consider starting with small income and grow bigger,” he said.
Speaking during the workshop, Johnson Ngezimana from Valley of Hope said that profits from ISALs can be used to start small businesses including tourism.
“Chimanimani is a tourist attraction and women should also consider taking up tourism as a business. You might not run lodges, but provide goods and services that are needed by tourism players.
“Tourists consume food, beverages and cultural products. Women should consider livestock production, crafts, crop production, cultural dance, food processing and designing artifacts for tourists. The money from ISALs should be used start such initiatives,” he said.
Livingstone Mtetwa from Inclusive Global asked women to be inclusive of Persons with Disabilities in ISAL programmes.
“Sometimes we become our own enemies by discriminating others. A Person with Disability can be a good entrepreneur just the same way those without physical challenges can be. Persons with Disabilities should be allowed to join ISALs in the communities,” he said.