In a quiet rural school at Figtree Centre in Plumtree, Matabeleland South, a powerful transformation is taking place, one not only seen in classrooms, but in the lives of young people finding their voice.
At the heart of this change is Aids Transforms Zimbabwe, a non-profit organisation founded by Zwelani Ndebele under unlikely circumstances within prison walls.
Today, his lived experiences have become the inspiration he stands to impact on learners, not as a cautionary tale, but as a living example of redemption, resilience and hope.
Working alongside his partner, Mbonisi Moyo, Ndebele has been facilitating educational outreach programmes at Lighthouse Foundation College, the first secondary school established in the area.
Their sessions go beyond textbooks, tackling real-life issues often a no-go area in homes and classrooms, ranging from substance abuse and peer pressure to personal struggles, self-worth and the effect of crime.
For many learners, these sessions have become a safe space.
“It is an opening where learners get to express themselves,” said Ndebele. “We have realised that there are many things pupils were failing to communicate. But through this initiative, they are finally sharing their thoughts.”
In a community where many young people face harsh realities, poverty, orphanhood, early pregnancy and exposure to drugs and alcohol, such conversations are not just important; they are necessary.
- Edutainment mix: Chains to chants: Zwelani Ndebele and the alchemy of pain
- Emagudugudwini: Oasis in the woods: The creative pulse of Plumtree road
- Aids Transforms Zimbabwe empowers youths in Matabeleland South
Keep Reading
School principal Isaac Chibona believes the programme has arriving at the right time.
“They are doing a great job for our rural children. Many of them come from difficult backgrounds. What makes this initiative unique is that it speaks directly to their lived experiences,” Chibona says.
Perhaps even more impactful is Ndebele himself. Once known for a troubled past, he now stands as a symbol of change, something the learners recognise and deeply relate to.
Inside the classroom, the atmosphere during the sessions is markedly different. Students engage freely, ask questions and open up in ways that teachers say they rarely do during formal lessons.
“We have been warmly welcomed. The students participate actively and we also realise that they appreciate the knowledge we’re sharing, especially on issues they don’t usually get to discuss at school or at home,” says Moyo.
Teachers at Lighthouse said the programme was strengthening their efforts in guidance and counselling.
Mandlenkosi Sibanda said learners freely expressed their feelings when speaking to someone from outside the school environment.
“It is helping them to open up about the challenges they face both in and out of school. That alone is making a big difference,” he said.
With substance abuse increasingly affecting young people across communities, the initiative is also seen as a timely intervention.
Obert Dube, a teacher, emphasised initiative's growing importance.
“This programme comes at a time when drugs are slowly ravaging our youth. We are grateful for the impact. Learners are beginning to understand realities they were previously unaware of,” he said.
Through simple language, relatable experiences and honest dialogue, Aids Transforms Zimbabwe is not just educating, it is reshaping mindsets and rebuilding confidence.
For the learners at Lighthouse Foundation College, the sessions are more than lessons.
They are reminders that no matter where one comes from, change is possible and sometimes, the most powerful teachers are those who have lived through the very struggles and help others to overcome.
