SIYA was established by its director, Mr Wellington Bakaimani some years back. Mr Bakaimani, who is also the head of the Content Creators of Zimbabwe, visited the Islamic Republic of Iran earlier this year to attend the Tehran International Tourism and Related Industries Exhibition.

 

The academy trains the youth in survival skills such as clothing technology, steel fabrication, music production, computer studies and visual arts productions. They are also run girl empowerment programmes.

 

Mr Bakaimani, in his welcoming remarks, chronicled the journey that his academy had travelled since its launch. He highlighted SIYA’s commitment to the upliftment of his community from abject poverty by equipping its youth with survival skills that will enable them to fend for themselves and their families.

 

He further said that his organisation was also working on restoring the area’s culture and traditions that are under a spirited onslaught and influence from the Western countries.

 

Mr Bakaimani said a country’s culture forms the bedrock of its identity as a nation.

Mr Bakhtiyar, who expressed his deepest appreciation for being invited to tour the youth centre, made a passionate plea for the people of Shamva to preserve their culture for future posterity.

 

He also made an emphatic plea for Bakaimani to continue with his current humanitarian trajectory of building and empowering his local community through skills development initiatives aimed at equipping the beneficiaries with survival and life sustaining skills.

 

Mr Bakhtiyar also reiterated that Mr Bakaimani's academy is set to benefit from strengthened cultural relations between Zimbabwe and Iran as Iran moves to bolster its age long relationship that has stood the test of time.

 

His centre is also set to benefit from the numerous scholarships offered to Zimbabwe by Iran.

 

Mr Bakhtiyar also met the Chief Executive Officer of Chaminuka rural district council, the local authority running Shamva, Mr Mandinyenya.

Mr Mandinyenya told Mr Bakhtiyar that his district has vast investment opportunities in gold and lithium mining, agriculture and in tourism. He urged Iranian companies to invest in his mineral rich district.

In response, Mr Bakhtiyar said small settlements like Shamva need to tap into the investment potential of its own residents who can operate family run businesses as a way of growing the local economy of the area. He emphasised the need for the residents of Shamva to preserve their culture, just like what Iran has been doing over the years.

 

In another separate meeting held at the Government complex in Shamva, Mr Bakhtiyar also met the Government district coordinator for Shamva, Mr Clever Machekera.

 

Mr Machekera said Shamva was so proud of its cultural heritage and traditions which are safeguarded by the local traditional chiefs. He also urged the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to partner the people of Shamva in their development thrust.

 

In response, Mr Bakhtiyar said Iran enjoyed a very healthy and excellent relationship with Zimbabwe, which dates back to 1979. He said that relationship was expanding by the day as various initiatives to further improve cordial relations were under way. He further noted that Iran was working on an ongoing comprehensive cultural exchange programme with Zimbabwe involving visits and educational scholarships offers to Zimbabwean students.

 

He said the Western hegemony intended to destroy Zimbabwe and Iran’s cultural identity through influencing the countries’ youth to consume western products like music, clothing and various foodstuffs.

 

Mr Bakhtiyar said Iran was ready for further cooperation with Shamva district.

 

Speaking during the tour of the centre, Mr Bakhtiyar urged the students and SIYA to preserve the Zimbabwe and Shamva’s culture and traditions so as to maintain their identity. He said all forms of art can be tools of uniting people.

 

The tour was meant to enlighten Mr Bakhtiyar on Shamva’s potential as an attractive investment destination and cultural hub.