PART 2: 24 Youth Teams enter Youth-led Changemaking in Zimbabwe
Thomas ° August 25, 2021 ° 2:57 pm
This article is the continuation of THIS Article. Whereas the first article covered week 1 to week 3 of the changemaking challenge, this article covers week 4 to week 6 of the changemaking challenge and the results for the Level 2 participants.
Use the links below to jump directly to the results of the respective week...
- Week 4 Changemaking Report
- Week 5 Changemaking Report
- Week 6 Changemaking Report
- Final Report with end results
Week 4: Reporting Period From 31/7/21 To 7/8/21
Q: What is your impression of the youth-led changemaking activity in the reporting period? (challenges, wins, memorable stories, learnings….):
- This was a tough week for some of the teams as some almost gave up but the focal person took his counselling skills into practice which really paid off.
- The exchange rate was a major challenge as most prizes went up unexpected with the prize of fuel going up hence most prizes were forced to change upwards.
- However, despite all the challenges, the teams managed to make good sales and some even continued to make profit.
- The teams have also learnt that its best to sell the products in USD so as to stay afloat even when the rates do change.
Q: Any feedback of the youth regarding their experience in the youth-led changemaking activity in the reporting period?:
Most of the teams were affected by exchange rate but managed to adjust accordingly. Some changed their trade as their previous activities were not really doing well.
Products a changemaking team is selling
Below is a simple table showing the results from the groups
Week 5: Reporting Period From 7/8/21 To 14/8/21
Week 5: Reporting Period From 7/8/21 To 14/8/21
What is your impression of the youth-led changemaking activity in the reporting period? (challenges, wins, memorable stories, learnings….):
This reporting period saw an improvement for most of the teams probably due to experience on how to do business even in difficult times.
However, the total revenue has seen a slight drop though not bad.
The worst challenge remains on limited hours to do business due to lockdown restrictions.
Some of the teams continue to be very impressive as they have grown so much in terms of their ability to attract more customers.
Three teams namely team Kudzai Kaputa, Phiona Mushonga and team Define Moses are being so impressive as they are making huge sales due to their strategies.
Q: Any feedback of the youth regarding their experience in the youth-led changemaking activity in the reporting period?:
One team report that they are struggling mostly due to school which is also worsened by limited business time due to covid restrictions. Some are already enquiring when the level 3 will start as they are so exited to continue with the change making competition.
Below is a simple table showing the results from the groups
Week 6: Reporting Period From 14/8/21 To 21/8/21
Q: What is your impression of the youth-led changemaking activity in the reporting period? (challenges, wins, memorable stories, learnings….):
The week has seen some worrying reports from various teams as they reported very low weekly revenue. There was a great drop in terms of sales, profit and number of people served The facilitator feel it may be due to the harsh environment but also feel that some teams maybe trying to reduce the figure to pay low 25% contributions. However, some teams did very well in terms of their figures. The facilitator took some time to counsel some teams felt like pulling out of the change making next competition because they failed to make the 81% profit needed to move to the next level.
Q: Any feedback of the youth regarding their experience in the youth-led changemaking activity in the reporting period?:
Some teams reported having challenges in clearing their stock and the facilitator decided to check the stock to see if it was really there. The findings showed that there was still stock which was not yet sold for those visited. This maybe due to changes in the exchange rate which continue to raise. Some of the teams have reported being too excited as they saw good results from the changemaking activities.
Below is a simple table showing the results from the groups
Final Report with End Results
The changemaking activity ran for 6 weeks / days starting on the 10/07 and ending on the 21/08/21 with the award ceremony held on the 29th of August 2021 at The Salvation Marikopo Corps church hall.
- A total of 12 youth groups participated. The age of the youth was between 26 and 40.
- The total number of youths that participated was 36.
- Each group received a total of 50 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 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 Youth-led Changemaking Activity
- All the 12 teams managed to return the funds of the trust-based investment they received.
- 2 teams teams returned the trust based investment without having made a profit.
- 10 teams made a profit in the youth-led changemaking activity and returned the trust based investment AND also made a donation of 25 % of their profit for youth-led changemaking activities as per the agreement.
The biggest achievement of the youth in the eyes of the facilitator is that …..:
-> 10 out of the 12 teams managed to make profit during the six weeks about 9 teams have managed to make 81% profit of the initial capital to qualify for level three of the competition.
What was the feedback of the youth regarding their experience in the youth-led changemaking activity:
-> The six weeks was a tough period as it has seen prizes of goods changing upwards due to the increase of fuel prizes. But despite these challenges, teams promised to work hard and conquer the challenges. Most of the teams are willing to continue with the changemaking competition.
Any stories or feedback from the changemaking activity that inspired you / really resonated with you / was memorable for you?:
-> Some team members narrated their stories of how life have been too hard for them but changed after joining the changemaking competition. Other teams members shared that they are now able to look after their siblings who are struggling due to poverty which has affected a lot of families in the country. The activities that really inspired the focal person was buying and selling of small food products which have seen many groups making reasonable profits.
Below is a simple table showing the results from the groups against the funds received:
Impact of the competition:
Increased number of young females with own income helping in the reduction of unwanted pregnancies due to hunger and poverty. The competition is also helping young girls and women to be able to purchase sanitary wear and also being empowered due to own income and self-reliant. The competition is also acting as an eye opener to the participants and as they could not believe that they can do much with a small amount of money.
Recommendations of facilitator:
Provision for more young people to join the competition so as to help them to be self-reliant. There is also need for the activity to empower the young people to be generous and also feel the zeal to help other disadvantaged young people in the community.
Challenges:
- Some of the teams were unable to generate much revenue due to the kind of activities they decided to venture into. One team led by Kudzai Kaputa injected their own capital which really distorted their figures and ended up reporting very high profit figures which they failed to then make a donation equivalent to the weekly profits they have reported.
- The other team led by Define Moses had not yet submitted their donation by the time the report was written but promised to do so in a few days to come.
- On the graduation ceremony day, most of the participants were denied entry into the church hall and got turned away for not being vaccinated. This was due to the current government directive that only vaccinated people are allowed at to enter into the church. This really affected the day as only just few team representatives were vaccinated and managed to attend the graduation and reward ceremony.
Overview of expenditures to run the youth-led changemaking challenge
