On Monday, Shenzhen-based telecommunications firm Huawei in Zimbabwe launched the 2022 edition of the Seeds for the Future program under which 30 undergraduate university students will undergo a weeklong, virtual training course to upgrade their information and communications technology (ICT) knowledge and skills.
Running for the eighth year in Zimbabwe now, the program has evolved over the years as it continues to nurture and bolster ICT skills for tertiary students and ICT professionals.
In addition to helping beneficiaries to close the gap between theory and practice and master required skills, the program also encourages countries across different regions to participate in the construction of digital communities.
“Today’s event is all about nurturing youth leadership in ICT sector. In our 25 years of operation in Zimbabwe, this has always been our number one priority to promote local empowerment and capacity building, whilst we bring the best technology and solutions to assist Zimbabwe’s glorious and ambitious national development master plan,” Huawei Technologies Zimbabwe Ltd. managing director Wei Qingtao said at the launch.
The Seeds for the Future program is Huawei’s biggest global flagship corporate social responsibility program which seeks to develop local ICT talent, enhance knowledge transfer and promote a greater understanding of the telecommunications sector among the youth in the countries where it operates.
Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the program has been conducted virtually with 12,413 students from 137 countries and regions around the globe having benefited, Wei said.
He commended the strong partnership between his company and the Zimbabwean Government under the program.
“Since the Seeds for the Future program was launched in 2015 in Zimbabwe, Huawei, the ministries and local universities have worked together to provide the opportunity to learn about cutting-edge ICT technologies and Chinese culture for over 80 Zimbabwean undergraduate students,” Wei said.
He said this year’s program will run from Sept. 13-20 and will offer the students a rich experience involving technology classes, leadership classes, Chinese cultural experiences, an international corporate tour and communication with peers around the world.