Staff Writer
HARARE – In a packed hall at St Clare Chiedza in Southerton, something rare was happening: parents and children were actually listening to each other.
Families from Southerton and surrounding communities recently gathered for the 21st Century Parenting Workshop, an initiative designed to equip households with practical tools, safe spaces, and direct access to professional support—all aimed at rebuilding homes and restoring hope across generations.
Organized by Liz Dziva, the workshop was delivered in partnership with the International Coaching and Mentoring Foundation and brought together parents, youth, experts, schools, and universities with one goal: navigating 21st century challenges and building stronger futures.
What Families Actually Need Right Now
The workshop delivered practical, hands-on sessions that addressed the real pressures families face daily.
Parents explored different parenting styles and approaches, including authoritative and positive discipline, conscious parenting, attachment-based parenting, and setting healthy boundaries. The goal was simple: help each family identify what works for their unique home and children.
Facilitators provided tools to move from conflict to connection, helping parents build emotional safety while maintaining structure and respect.
Navigating the Digital Generation
Sessions also tackled the digital generation head-on, giving parents strategies to understand how Gen Z and Gen Alpha think, set healthy phone and social media rules without constant conflict, and protect children online.
Through expert-led career guidance and study abroad sessions, families learned how to “kill pressure and grow purpose”—shifting from forcing their own dreams on children to mentoring them to discover their own paths and opportunities.
Safe Spaces for Healing
Free counselling from professional therapists at Friends of Hope Foundation and Catholic University of Zimbabwe gave families a rare safe space to address trauma, communication breakdowns, and unspoken issues before they escalate.
Attendees also had the opportunity to connect directly with representatives from local schools, universities, and other training facilities.
Dr. Duri, Director of the International Coaching and Mentoring Foundation, led a powerful keynote on modern parenting and mentorship. Participants also took part in a panel discussion with industry life coaches and accessed one-on-one counselling.
A standout moment was the open dialogue segment, where parents heard directly from young people—and youth heard from parents without judgment.
Dziva emphasized that this two-way conversation is critical for breaking communication barriers and rebuilding mutual respect at home.
Mr. Mugaza, a father and attendee, shared his transformation:
“The lessons on different parenting styles opened my eyes. I learned how to be firm but loving, with clear rules and open communication. That shift is already changing things at home.”
Mrs. Mhlanga, a mother, added:
“I now understand how naturally boys are drawn to their mothers and girls to their dads. The sessions on attachment and emotional connection helped me stop fighting it and start using it to bond better with my son. That one insight changed how I parent.”
Takudzwa Muchechetere, a youth attendee, offered a perspective often missing from these conversations:
“I am glad parents learnt that they shouldn’t force their dreams on their kids. We need communication, not pressure. The workshops taught us that families can have structure without control. Let us explore, discover ourselves, get mentors, and pursue our own dreams.”
This is just the beginning. Liz Dziva is taking the 21st Century Parenting Workshop to communities across Harare and beyond, with the next stop at St Mary’s Queen of Peace, Old Highfield, on Saturday 21 July.
“Strong families are the foundation of strong economies and strong nations,” Dziva said. “When we invest in parenting, we reduce school dropouts, mental health crises, and broken homes.
“My vision is to transform lives by taking these tools door-to-door. Every parent and every child deserves access.”
The Bigger Picture
In an era of digital distraction, generational divides, and mounting mental health challenges, the 21st Century Parenting Workshop offers something increasingly rare: a space for honest conversation, practical solutions, and genuine healing.
As Dziva put it, the mission is to transform lives, one family at a time.
For more information on the Parenting Workshops, contact: edziva@gmail.com
About Author
