Resilience and Finding My Purpose

Recently, we sat down to chat with Samantha Dube, a 35-year-old former SKILLZ Coach based in Bulawayo,  Zimbabwe, who shared an inspiring journey of purpose, resilience, and making an impact. 

Which GRS programme(s) were you a part of? 

I joined the GRS family in 2017.  I was part of SKILLZ Street. During the year, I  was also trained as a SKILLZ Plus Coach. I then transitioned from being a Coach to a communications intern, then a communications officer in 2019, before transitioning to future opportunities. 

What was your favourite part of being a GRS Coach?

Being part of a team that was making real change in communities. After transitioning from GRS, I worked as a data clerk for a local non-governmental organisation that allowed me to tell the beautiful story of implementation in numbers. ‘’ describing impact in numbers’’ Throughout my role at Matabeleland Aids Council (MAC) I reflected on the essential role near peer mentors play in the various impact models for programmes. I realised being a Coach was part of a bigger story of impact and change in communities. 

What was the most important thing you learned as a Coach?

I learnt so many helpful employability skills that still define my career moments to date. The facilitation skills I learnt from the BIG 5 and 11 Bs helped me throughout my work life. At one point, I was engaged in a program where I needed to facilitate and mobilize communities in the hard-to-reach areas. The facilitation skills I gained from GRS enabled me to create a safe space and engage in dialogue with the different populations we were meant to serve. I also learned to say no to things that made me unhappy, to set boundaries in my relationship with my former husband, to protect the emotional wellbeing of my daughter and myself, to take my health seriously, and  talk openly about my body and my sexual health without shame.

How did GRS support you when you were a Coach?

As a Coach, having the platform to be part of making real, meaningful change really ignited in me my arts passion that I had long buried because of life’s hardships. GRS helped me understand that my body belonged to me and that my health mattered. That knowledge changed how I raised my daughter. I started having conversations with her about her body, boundaries, and the power of saying no. I also found myself having conversations with my sisters and other women around me. Sometimes women would pull me aside after those conversations and quietly tell me what they were going through. Some needed health services. Some needed information. Some simply needed someone to listen. I began referring people to organisations and women’s clinics where they could get appropriate support. For the first time in a long time, I felt that I was living with purpose. GRS supported me to get my voice and discover my passion! 

What skills did you gain as a Coach?

I gained facilitation, communication, mobilization, and youth engagement skills. The skills have helped shape my career pathway, as I currently work in admissions for one of the biggest Universities in Bulawayo, where I get to interact with thousands of students and help use the communication skills I learnt always! 

How did you grow – personally and professionally – In your time as a GRS Coach?

I was able to further my studies. When I joined, I only had a diploma, and through the various developmental sessions, I was able to set short-term and long-term goals for myself. I was able to enroll in short courses and also ignite my passion for arts,  poetry, and writing, which I had put on hold for a long time. 

What has your journey been since your time as a GRS Coach? What are you doing now?

Since my SKILLZ Coach journey, I have continued working with organisations including Green Governance, the African Forum and Network on Debt and Development, and WeCre8ate, among others. I have also collaborated with smaller organisations and become involved in mental health activism, including annual donation drives supporting people in vulnerable circumstances and people living with mental health challenges. My work has also increasingly become about creating opportunities for young people. During COVID-19, I created an event called Meet and Grill, a platform where young artists could showcase their talent, promote their work, and earn an income at a time when opportunities were extremely limited. We partnered with organisations including the National Gallery of Zimbabwe and other stakeholders to help promote the events, and despite the challenges, we made it work. I also started a street-food business that employs young people from high-density communities in Bulawayo, where we provide catering services for local events. I’m currently working in admissions at one of the biggest Universities in Bulawayo. 

What challenges have you overcome in life to get to where you are today?

I have overcome significant challenges to be this purpose-driven and confident in the work I do. When I first joined GRS, I was coming out of a challenging period in my marriage. I had been battling depression for some time; I was constantly stressed, and I was trying to take care of my very young daughter. Having grown up in an environment where divorce is shunned, joining GRS as a Coach helped me create a support system of strong supporters. It also helped me find my voice. My passions, and most importantly, becoming resilient amidst challenges. 

What are your goals for the future?

Progressing in my work as an advocate for adolescents through the arts and also joining spaces that help nurture passions and commitment for adolescents. I’m also fond of and excited to continue working in spaces that seek to empower young people and adolescents. Looking forward to enrolling in a social work and Counselling program in the near future and working in spaces that promote young people’s development!

Overall, how has GRS influenced you or impacted your life today?

Resilience is the key reflection for me. GRS gave me the necessary skills to be resilient in life. I’m reminded of the practice I’m beautiful” and the lessons that helped me acknowledge my passions and strengths, reminding me that I’m worthy and can make a meaningful impact in the communities and people I live with. My most recent encounter was meeting with a former SKILLZ participant I taught during my time as a SKILLZ Coach, and she was graduating cum laude, and she shared how the lessons she learnt during the SKILLZ Plus program helped her make informed choices about her health and education. This reminded me deeply of the commitment to changing lives I made during my time as a SKILLZ Coach!