Michelle's story begins with loss. Her father passed away when she was just ten months old, leaving her mother to raise two daughters alone in Choruwa village, Mutare Rural in Zimbabwe. Tragedy struck again when Michelle's sister was severely injured in a tree accident, leaving her disabled and reliant on ongoing medical care, further complicating their lives. Their mother worked tirelessly, but keeping food on the table meant school fees often went unpaid.

Friday was the only day I had peace of mind,” Michelle Kuretu recalls. “Every other day of the week, I feared being sent home because we could not pay school fees.” Yet she persevered, studying at home whenever she was turned away, wearing second-hand uniforms, and carrying a borrowed satchel.

Her determination paid off when she completed Grade 7 (primary school level) with 6 units, then pushed through to achieve 9 subjects in her Form 4 examinations (secondary level), aided finally by the Government of Zimbabwe funded Basic Education Assistance Model (BEAM) that allowed her to sit for the exams.

A Turning Point

Everything changed in Lower Six (Advanced Level) when Michelle became part of the CARE Zimbabwe implemented and Project Management Institute Educational Foundation (PMIEF) funded program. The program did not just teach her about project ideation, planning, execution, and monitoring, it gave her a framework to change her family’s future.

With her new project management skills , Michelle started small and today, she manages a flock of 15 chickens, with focus on optimizing egg production and applying the bookkeeping techniques PMIEF taught her. The income from selling chickens to neighbors now helps cover household expenses, school supplies, and her sister’s medical costs. The eggs and meat have supported the nutrition needs of the family.

“PMIEF didn’t just teach me to manage projects,” Michelle explains. “It taught me to manage hope.”

Michelle Kuretu stands proudly in front of her chicken fowl run. ©Tendai Mamhova/CARE Zimbabwe

Building Tomorrow

Now in Upper Six at Mushunje High School and serving as Project Manager of the school’s PMIEF Club, Michelle’s vision extends far beyond her current flock. She plans to scale her poultry business to supply local restaurants and hotels—revenue that will fund her university education.  Her dream is to become a CEO, creating opportunities and proving that adversity doesn’t define one’s potential.

From a girl who feared weekdays would end to a young woman planning her own company, Michelle embodies what’s possible when resilience meets opportunity. Her journey reminds us that investing in young people’s skills doesn’t just change individual lives—it transforms entire families and communities.

Today, Michelle isn’t just raising chickens. She’s raising the bar for what’s possible.