By Matukio Daima Media ,Mufindi
A young disabled man, Yusto Kalinga, a resident of Ikanga village, Mdabulo ward, Mufindi district, Iringa region, whose disability resulted from severe burns sustained while clearing farmland using fire, is among 134 disabled youths receiving entrepreneurship training through the Foxes Community and Wildlife Conservation institution and the Youth Agency Mufindi (YAM) project.
Kalinga expressed his gratitude to the YAM project, under Foxes Community and Wildlife Conservation and Mufindi District Council, for recognizing him and providing this opportunity for training.
Speaking yesterday during the 12-day training at the Yatima Igoda Hall in Mufindi, which brings together 134 disabled youths, Kalinga said the training is paving the way for financial independence and reducing dependency on their families.
Kalinga stated that his goal is to become a poultry farmer, as his disability allows him to manage the activities with his own hands and generate income.
He is one of the 134 disabled individuals undergoing training under Foxes Community and Wildlife Conservation and the Youth Agency Mufindi (YAM) project from 16 villages across three wards in Mufindi district: Mdabulo, Luhunga, and Ihanu.
"I have chosen to raise indigenous chickens, and I need to learn more about poultry farming so that by the end of the training, I will know which type of livestock to focus on."
Speaking about how he became disabled, Kalinga recalled a day he will never forget. He and his longtime colleague were burning grass to clear farmland when they were trapped by the fire and overwhelmed by smoke. He collapsed and suffered severe burns on both hands.
"While clearing the farmland using fire, the flames unexpectedly spread beyond control. We tried to contain it, but the smoke became overwhelming and trapped us. I collapsed and suffered burns on both hands. I spent a long time recovering while striving to avoid permanent disability."
Kalinga expressed his gratitude to Foxes Community and Wildlife Conservation for facilitating his treatment at Inuka Hospital in Njombe region and supporting him through physiotherapy exercises to regain functionality in his hands.
"I am thankful to them as an institution for investing in our abilities, providing us with training, and empowering us to become self-reliant."
He advised his fellow trainees to pay close attention to the trainers' guidance and apply the knowledge in their daily lives to achieve success.
The Youth Agency Mufindi (YAM) project, running from 2021 to 2024, is a four-year initiative aimed at providing entrepreneurship training and empowering vulnerable youth from Ihanu, Mdabulo, and Luhunga wards. The project is funded by the Government of Finland through its Diaconess Institution, in collaboration with the Government of Tanzania, under the Mufindi District Council, and Foxes Community and Wildlife Conservation.
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