From SKILLZ Participant to Radio DJ: Taboka’s Story

The room comes alive whenever Taboka Nleya walks in. With her magnetic presence and confident demeanor, it’s easy to mistake her for a youth leader. Perhaps this is because she hosts one of the most popular drive-time shows on SKYZ Metro FM, Bulawayo’s commercial radio station. Yet behind the microphone and public image is someone deeply grounded – and shaped by a journey that began over a decade ago as a Grassroot Soccer (GRS) SKILLZ participant.

That journey came full circle when Taboka was invited to host the MindSKILLZ radio drama, part of Grassroot Soccer’s mental health media initiative in Zimbabwe. The 12-episode series aired every Friday from January through March, addressing critical mental health issues across compelling storytelling and post-episode discussions with SKILLZ Coaches.

For Taboka, the radio drama was more than just another assignment. It was a through line in her journey, an eye-opener, and a platform to grow personally and professionally. 

“When I was invited to the orientation meeting, it all came back to me.” she said. “I remembered being a participant in the SKILLZ program. Back then we learned important lessons through football. I still remember we had so much fun without realizing we were being empowered for life!”

“Mental health is something people don’t talk about enough, especially for young people,” she continued. “Parents often ask, ‘What kind of animal is this depression?’ They don’t think it’s real when young people talk about it. But when I listened to the character Sharon in the show, I saw so many girls in our communities who are facing the same reality. It was all so real.”

For Taboka, the topic of mental health is also deeply personal. 

“There was a time I felt overwhelmed — completely down and out,” she reflected. “Looking back, I now know it was depression. But what helped was something as simple as talking to a friend. It lifted the weight off my shoulders. That’s when I truly realized the power of support.”

What made the experience even more powerful for her was speaking with the SKILLZ Coaches who shared their real-life stories and provided practical advice for listeners during post-episode conversations. 

“They were authentic. They told simple and practical steps towards achieving good mental health, like finding someone to talk to – be it a parent, friend, or mentor,” she said. “That message stuck with me: sharing your burden really does lighten the burden.”

Taboka also cited the gender equality lessons she learned during SKILLZ as helping prepare her for a career in a male-dominated field.

“I never thought I’d be here. It hasn’t been easy,” she reflected. “But I’ve used those lessons that I got when I was young to push forward. Women still have to fight for space, but I’ve carved out mine using the tools I got from younger me at GRS sessions.” 

In addition to the radio drama, GRS’s MindSKILLZ media initiative in Zimbabwe included SKILLZ Coach podcasts, social media influencer skits, and short drama videos — each designed to educate and engage young people and their families around mental health. The podcasts are now airing on national television, while the dramas continue to reach new audiences through a university campus radio station, extending the impact and helping keep the conversation on mental health alive.

In response to the show, Taboka has heard overwhelmingly positive feedback from both young listeners and their parents alike, who told her that the drama made it easier to open conversations at home.

“I had people texting on our WhatsApp platform to say how the episodes helped them talk to their children. Some said it gave them the words they didn’t know how to find,” she said. “That kind of impact really moved me. I strongly believe that parent-to-child communication can be strengthened through programs like these. They offer an entry point into conversations that are often difficult to start.”

By Praise Dlakama, Project Coordinator for Grassroot Soccer based in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe