Zimbabwe’s youth pay the price of US funding drawdown

Troy Zambara, 29, is among the few Teen Rescue Mission trainees who managed to continue working after the program was halted. He still practices welding at the center, using the single welding machine. Photo by: Linda Mujuru / Devex

The sudden withdrawal of U.S. funding stalled youth employment programs, cut counseling services, and pushed community organizations into survival mode. For young people navigating unemployment, addiction recovery, and poverty, the consequences were immediate.