Part 1: 24 Youth Teams enter Youth-led Changemaking in Zimbabwe
Below you find the chronological updates from the Changemaking activity in Zimbabwe based on the reports that the facilitator Mr. Pride Mhlanga sends to YES Founders Foundation as well as the original reports from the Youth teams themselves...
Jump to any of the reports through the links below:
- Youth-led Changemaking Launch Report
- Week 1 Changemaking Report
- Week 2 Changemaking Report
- Week 3 Changemaking Report
- Final Report Level 1 Changemakers after Week 3
Youth-led Changemaking Launch Report
July Changemaking Launch report
Date: 10/07/2021
Venue: The Salvation Army Marikopo Corps
The Change making competition was launched with 24 groups participating. The groups are into two different groups, level 1 and level 2 groups. Level 1 groups will go for three weeks ending on the 31st of July and level 2 to go for six weeks ending on the 21st of August. On the 31st of July, level 2 groups will be receiving their next Trench.
The launch was led by Major Simbamba who handed over the funds to the group leaders and only group leaders were asked to come for the launch due to covid restrictions. The focal person also took time to explain some important matters in the competition like reporting and doing non illegal businesses as well as understanding the purpose of the competition including its aim and objectives.
The business activities range from selling of cosmetics, meat products, vending and buying and selling of baby wear.
The participants were so excited to receive the funds with most level two groups expressing relief as they thought that there was no more money coming due to a long break.
Recommendations:
The participants recommended that if it is possible, they would like to rest just for two weeks until they start another level.
Compiled by Pride Mhlanga – Focal person
Week 1: Reporting Period From 10/7/21 To 17/7/21
Weekly Reporting of Changemaking Activity by Facilitator
Name of facilitator: PRIDE MHLANGA
Reporting Period: From 10/7/21 To 17/7/21
Q: What is your impression of the youth-led changemaking activity in the reporting period? (challenges, wins, memorable stories, learnings….):
A: Though some of the groups did not manage to make profit during this reporting period, however their performances were overall encouraging. So far there are no drop outs as compared to the same period in the last changemaking challenge. The most challenges facing the group are a national thing as a result of covid restrictions. So for the groups to keep managing to proceed with their change making activities, to me it’s a major win. Most of the groups still needed help to understand the reporting template which the facilitator tried his best to assist for quality reports from the groups.
Q: Any feedback of the youth regarding their experience in the youth-led changemaking activity in the reporting period?:
A: Yes there have been feedback from the groups regarding their experiences. Most of the teams have managed to adjust after the government announced covid lockdown measures which allows people to do their businesses from 08:00 – 15:00 hrs. daily. The great news is that since the community where the change making is a more of a rural set up allows the groups to conduct their businesses to go beyond the stipulated hours. This is because they can still sell at home as people are now aware of their products.
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Below is a simple table showing the results from the groups against the funds received. The table also indicates the number of people served and the activities which were done by the groups as well as Changemaker Level they are in. Level 2 teams will conduct the changemaking activity for a total of 6 weeks and receive a second investment tranche after the first 3 weeks of conducting their changemaking venture.
Week 1 overview from Mr. Pride Mhlanga based on the reporting of Youth Teams.
Week 2: Reporting Period From 17/07-24/07/21
Weekly Reporting of Changemaking Activity by Facilitator
Name of facilitator: PRIDE MHLANGA
Reporting Period: From 17/07-24/07/21
Q: What is your impression of the youth-led changemaking activity in the reporting period? (challenges, wins, memorable stories, learnings….):
A: As the saying goes that experience is the best teacher, this is witnessed by the improvement on the performance of most groups. A good number managed to improve on their sales with some remaining on top of the game by making more profit.
The challenges remain on reporting with most groups failing to report on time. The focal person is working hard to make sure the groups report their work on time and assisting some of the groups explaining the requirements and importance of the weekly report.
Q: Any feedback of the youth regarding their experience in the youth-led changemaking activity in the reporting period?:
A: The groups reported on one major challenge of limited time due to covid restrictions which are allowing people to do business only from 08:00am to 15:30pm. One of the groups have reported on the challenge that their school calendar coincided with their changemaking calendar but however said they will catch since they still have four weeks to go in Level 2. The focal person simply advised the groups to be more innovative as is the requirement of the competition.
Overall, the groups are liking the challenges and enjoying their business adventures.
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Below is a simple table showing the results from the groups against the funds received. The table also indicates the number of people served and the activities which were done by the groups as well as Changemaker Level they are in.
Level 2 teams will conduct the changemaking activity for a total of 6 weeks and receive a second investment tranche after the first 3 weeks of conducting their changemaking venture.
Week 2 overview from Mr. Pride Mhlanga based on the reporting of Youth Teams.
Note: Teams might reinvest part of their revenue into their changemaking venture.
The only condition is that they should wrap it up towards the end of the changemaking activity.
Week 3: Reporting Period From 24/07 - 31/07/21
Q: What is your impression of the youth-led changemaking activity in the reporting period? (challenges, wins, memorable stories, learnings….):
The week has also been able to prove the importance of applying the best strategies by the groups in order to survive the ever-changing business environment.
The Zimbabwean economy is very unpredictable as it changes at any moment, prizes can shoot up any moment. Following the introduction of the new $50 Zimbabwean dollar, there has been an increase in the exchange rate which eventually forced some prize increase for some products, mostly basic commodities.
Despite the challenges above, the good news is that, most groups continued to make sales and profits. With Level 1 Changemaking participants finishing their period, it was competition gallo to grab the prize for achieving the highest profit.
Q: Any feedback of the youth regarding their experience in the youth-led changemaking activity in the reporting period?:
Three groups in level one reported having a challenge of recovering their money back due to the fact that they had reinvested all their money hoping to make sells in the last week but then was affected by increases of prizes on some products and exchange rate. The focal person encouraged the participants to avoid making the same mistake as it may also affect them.
However, the week has also seen some groups making very large sells and these groups deal with local and very cheap products which are easily accessible.
Week 3 in Numbers:
Below is a simple table showing the results from the groups against the funds received. The table also indicates the number of people served and the activities which were done by the groups.
Final Report Level 1 Changemakers: Reporting Period From 10/07-31/07/21
The changemaking activity ran for 3 weeks starting on the 10/07 and ending on the 31/07/21 with the award ceremony to be done at a later date.
- A total of 12 youth groups participated at Level 1. The age of the youth was between 17 and 33.
- The total number of youths that participated at Level 1 was 36.
- Each group received a total of 25 USD as trust based investment.
- The rules of the changemaking activity were explained to each team and each member and they also signed their registration on printed sign up forms which outlined the rules and expectations of the program.
- As per the rule, each group had to return the received funds if they managed to make a profit.
Outcome of the Level 1 Youth-led Changemaking Activity
9 teams made a profit and managed to return the funds of the trust-based investment they received.
4 teams who repeated level 1 team made a profit in the youth-led changemaking activity and returned the trust-based investment AND made a donation of 20 % of their profit for youth-led changemaking activities as per the agreement.
Names of group leaders and their 20% donations.
1. Don Maunga 9.40usd
2. Zvisinei Kaseke 7usd
3. Sylvia Katupure 6.20usd
4. Lilian Tandi 6usd
Total amount donated by Changemaker Teams at Level 1 for Youth-led changemaking activities in Zimbabwe from profit: 28.60 USD.
Q: The biggest achievement of the youth in the eyes of the facilitator is that …..:
Being able to complete the competition with a profit is very recommendable given the economic situation in Zimbabwe.
Q: What was the feedback of the youth regarding their experience in the youth-led changemaking activity:
The changemaking challenge was an insight as it managed to help the teams to learn about being innovative and being resilient.
However, three teams of Ruvimbo Matorera, Rufaro Matema and Beauty Mukute made a mistake of reinvesting all their capital into purchasing stock in the final week and unfortunately there were changes in the exchange rate which really affected their business as they could not regain their money back.
The three teams have been asked to finish selling their available/remaining stock and then pay back the investment or what is left of it.
Q: Any stories or feedback from the changemaking activity that inspired you / really resonated with you / was memorable for you?:
One team really made a great story by being so innovative. The team purchased dried maize to make local food products called ‘maputi’ which sold very well. The team is now supplying small retail shops and have made a very large profit of 187USD with a total sale of 212USD.
Results in Numbers:
Below is a simple table showing the results from the groups against the funds received. The table also indicates the number of people served and the activities which were done by the groups.
Impact of the changemaking challenge
- An increased number of young people who are self-reliant and business minded.
- The community is benefiting from door to delivery due to the strategies being applied by the teams in order to make sales.
- The competition also manages to keep the young people busy and reduce the chances of them engaging in harmful activities given the fact that church services and other youth activities are not being conducted due to lockdown rules.
Recommendations of facilitator
-> Enrollment of more youth in the changemaking challenge including those outside the church in order to create a responsible generation. This is becoming more an employment for most school leavers and there is no employment even for the graduates.
Challenges
-> Most of the participating youths do not own smart phones or simple phones at all, some use their parent’s phones.
This really creates a challenge for the facilitator in terms of communication and collection of the required material such as pictures and videos
