Ngamo Farm & Vocational Centre celebrates inaugural year

‘This is a moment of immense pride for us as educators, but even more so for the students who have applied themselves with such dedication,’ said Principal Lecturer, Lawrence Matshazi. ‘What we have built here is not just a farm or training facility – it is a better future for the community. These young people have gained practical skills that will strengthen food security, support their families, and contribute to a more resilient community. To have helped guide this first group, and to see so many achieve distinctions, has been an incredibly rewarding experience.’

Opened in February 2025 through a partnership between Wilderness and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with support from the German Federal Ministry of Economic Co-operation and Development (BMZ) and KfW Development Bank via the SADC TFCA Financing Facility, the Ngamo Livestock Farm & Vocational Centre was established to provide young people from the Tsholotsho District in Zimbabwe’s Matebeleland North province with free, practical, HEXCO-accredited training in agriculture and conservation-linked livelihoods. It also represents a critical next step for students progressing from Wilderness’ Children in the Wilderness (CITW) programme, creating a clear pathway from environmental education into tertiary-level skills and employment opportunities.

The centre’s first group of 43 students completed their National Foundation Certificate exams in October 2025, with results released in January 2026. Their graduation ceremony, held on site on 30 January 2026, was attended by Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, and Guest of Honour, Honourable Dr Evelyn Ndlovu, who planted a tree in the spirit of sustainability and growth in the region. Within the graduating class, 20 students achieved 28 distinctions between them, across subjects including Animal Production, Agricultural Engineering, Crop Production, and Wildlife Management.

In its first year of operation, the farm has already generated significant outputs, including more than 2.7 tonnes of vegetables, 709 chickens, and 1,590 eggs – totalling a combined market value of USD7,097. Produce is partly used in the facility’s dining hall, to sustain the students, staff and volunteers on site, and partly sold to local community members and Wilderness camps in neighbouring Hwange National Park, helping to build a conservation economy that supports local people while reducing reliance on distant suppliers. Surplus produce is donated through the community co-operative, supporting vulnerable households and families of volunteers.

Beyond food production, the facility continues to expand its infrastructure and learning opportunities. Foundations have been laid for an on-site abattoir, which will further strengthen the farm’s sustainability through future revenue generation. A fully operational chicken coop supports both broiler and layer production, in addition to the indigenous free-range birds, while a second greenhouse is enabling experimentation with climate-smart agricultural techniques and organic fertilisers. Indigenous trees have also been planted across the farm, reinforcing soil health and ecological restoration, while serving as a practical learning tool for students.

The centre’s impact extends beyond its enrolled students. At the graduation, 20 community members were also awarded honorary certificates in crop management in recognition of their contribution to the project, while additional training has been provided free of charge to local residents in topics such as climate-smart agriculture, enterprise development, animal health, predator-proof bomas, financial literacy, and conservation awareness.

Looking ahead, the programme continues to grow. A new intake of approximately 30 first-year students joined in February 2026, while around 10 of the original cohort have progressed into a second year of study towards a National Certificate, further deepening their skills and career opportunities, at no cost to the students. Through a CITW scholarship, students attend the college for free but begin the year with a USD600 debt to cover uniforms, equipment, and supplies. They clear this balance through practical farm labour, ensuring they gain a sense of ownership over their education.

‘I have followed the progress of many of these young students, when their journey with CITW first began more than a decade ago,’ said Wilderness Zambezi Impact Manager, Sue Goatley. ‘To now see them graduate at a tertiary level, equipped with the skills and confidence to shape their own futures, is incredible. We can provide the opportunity, but it is their commitment and determination that has brought them to this moment. It fills us with pride and hope to see what they will go on to achieve for themselves, their families, and their communities.’

Watch ‘The Seed’, a Wilderness film celebrating the conservation economy that has been created at Ngamo Livestock Farm & Vocational Centre here, or view a photo gallery of the graduation ceremony here.