Opening Doors: The GoTeach Program Continues to Thrive

On 20 June 2025, Mutoko buzzed with excitement as over 350 students from ten schools gathered at Mutoko Government High School for a career fair under the GoTeach Program — a global initiative by Teach For All and DHL, facilitated locally by Teach For Zimbabwe.

The event aimed to spark curiosity, expand horizons, and connect rural learners with professionals from diverse fields. Volunteers and experts from The Rotary Club, local law, healthcare, and life coaching joined forces with students to explore careers ranging from medicine and law to IT, logistics, and social work.

Students were grouped by study areas — Sciences, Arts, and Commercials — and rotated through career stations designed to inspire, inform, and challenge them. A-Level learners received focused guidance to help shape post-high school decisions, while O-Level students explored all stations to broaden their horizons. The day began with an encouraging address from the District Schools Inspector, who reminded students to ask questions and fully engage with every opportunity.

Special mention goes to TFZ volunteer Wadzanayi Gorimani, whose creative visuals helped students connect career paths to relevant university programs — a simple but powerful tool to make the future feel within reach.

The career fair was more than just an event — it was a launchpad. The spark of curiosity lit here soon led to a deeper, hands-on experience: the workplace visits.

On 4–5 August 2025, 36 Form Six students from eight schools, accompanied by four teachers, took that spark further, embarking on an immersive journey into the professional world with DHL Zimbabwe and Chloride Zimbabwe in Harare.

At DHL, learners were welcomed by Coach Stern Zvavamwe, who introduced them to the “career detective” approach using the acronym PURPOSE — a practical guide to exploring careers with curiosity, reflection, and intention.

Students then met Candy and Webster from DHL’s commercial team, who emphasized the importance of knowing oneself, developing skills aligned with personal strengths, and asking the “5 whys” to make informed career choices. Mr. Nyuke, Customs Specialist for DHL Southern Africa, shared how attitude, persistence, and seizing opportunities helped him rise from a data entry clerk to a leadership role.

After these sessions, students were divided into teams to tour DHL operations: Airport operations – exploring dispatch, receiving, warehouse, StarLink, and customs departments

DHL Global Forwarding (DGF) – learning about shipping logistics and global freight management

Head Office – rotating through IT, HR, sales and marketing, administration, and customer service

Each team gained hands-on exposure, had one-on-one interactions with staff, and learned the qualifications, skills, and pathways required for various careers. The excitement and curiosity sparked at the career fair were now matched by tangible experiences of professional life.

The following day, students visited Chloride Zimbabwe, a leading manufacturer of lead-acid and solar batteries. Here, they saw every step of the production process — from scrap processing, oxide production, and pasting to assembly, formation, testing, and final dispatch.

The students also engaged with staff across departments, learning about the skills, responsibilities, and career paths that keep a manufacturing operation running smoothly. This hands-on experience gave learners a real-world understanding of industrial operations, connecting theory to practice in a way no classroom could replicate.

“This visit opened my eyes to careers I didn’t even know existed,” said one student. 

“Seeing the processes in real life makes me want to work hard and explore different options.”

The GoTeach career fair and workplace visits created a seamless journey for rural youth, moving from inspiration to exploration to understanding. Students left not only with practical knowledge about career opportunities but also with confidence, curiosity, and the motivation to pursue their dreams.

Thanks to the ongoing partnership between Teach For Zimbabwe and DHL Zimbabwe, these initiatives continue to open doors and expand possibilities for rural learners — building brighter futures, one career fair and one workplace visit at a time.