The ZFU Fit for Life Programme, which is sponsored by Barclays, is an agriculture programme aimed at giving out-of-school youth who have not been successful in following an academic path – or who were not able to continue with their schooling due to poverty or other social circumstances – a second chance at skills development. The programme is aimed at young people aged between 16 and 30 and, during the course of 2017, selected groups underwent training at schools in rural districts throughout the country. The programme’s curriculum includes numeracy, literacy, financial and farming as a business modules and is delivered with the assistance of implementing partners.

After training, qualifying candidates are encouraged to set up young farmers’ clubs. They are also given the opportunity to apply for start-up funding to start an agricultural enterprise of their own in order to earn a livelihood and provide employment for others. Over 30 000 young people have benefitted from this programme since its inception, with 300 benefitting from the associated ZFU Agripreneurship Forum Thought Leadership Programme.