Programs and Projects

YMCA Zimbabwe is implementing a number of programs that empower young people and their communities. We espouse the Subject to Citizen (S2C) change philosophy by providing youth with Voice, Space and Ability to influence for positive change, enabling them to transform themselves, others and their communities. This philosophy is integrated in all the programs implemented. Zimbabwe YMCA is implementing various programmes and activities in capacity building programs, camping, character transformation activities, sports and recreation, gender programs, health programmes including drug and substances abuse prevention, sports and recreation civic competence, skills development, education and maturing activities.We encourage local communities to come together and identify common needs. YMCA facilitates development through various forms of support to enable them meet these needs. This enhances community ownership of the projects. We currently have over 5,000.Participants from different communities participating in our programmes countrywide every year.

Programs

Powerspaces

These are constant meeting activities, discussions around different issues affecting young people ranging from politics, economy, spiritual, social and health. During the Covid-19 induced lockdowns, we have scaled up on our online powerspaces which have proved to be beneficial to most young people during these hard and stressful times.

Covid-19 Emergency Response

YMCA Zimbabwe is a proactive organisation that seeks to cater for the well-being of communities around it. We launched an emergency response in all our branches to raise awareness about the novel Corona virus. This was  done through empowering the community through knowledge sharing, discarding myths and misconceptions and distribution of IEC material. We even started a sanitary pads campaign to raise 3000 pads to donate to the less privileged during these harsh times.

Young Advocates for Change (YAC) Program

Objective of the program: Young advocates for change (YAC) is a youth exchange programme where participants leave their home countries to work in pairs at a local YMCA branch in another country. The program is funded by FK Norway through Africa Alliance of YMCAs. Zimbabwe YMCA has been participating in the program since it was introduced. We have been able to send over 20 participants from our various branches across the country.

1.2. Youth Youth Entrepreneurship Program (Chegutu and Kadoma)

Project Name: An entrepreneurial route out of poverty: Empowerment of young people through entrepreneurship skills development to help reduce poverty levels and become self-reliant.

Project Goal :The project will address young peoples’ problems by creating employment opportunities and increasing household income, enabling young people and their families to address their basic needs. The project will take place in Kadoma and Chegutu.

The project is composed of 2 main strands:Training young people to set up and run successful agriculture businesses by improving yields and supporting business set-up Livelihood diversification, providing additional skills for a second trade to allow them to have more than a single source of income from agriculture.

USAID funding for Kadoma Branch: Kadoma branch will be receiving a grant to support some key populations to generate income. The signing in ceremony was done on the 21^st November to officially congratulate all the organizations who are receiving the grant. The Branch Coordinator, NGS and Finance attended

Objective of the program: To create livelihood opportunities for people living with HIV/AIDS who are already organized in existing support groups and Community ART Refill Groups (CARGs).

Other Programs/ Activities: Youth Sports Tournaments, Power Spaces, R and Y Clubs, Africa We want, Youth Friendly Centers, Snooker, Chicken projects

CYCLONE IDAI:

In March 2019 Cyclone Idai destroyed Chimanimani and Chipinge.  We went to the hard hit areas and noted their needs. We donated to girls and women reusable sanitary pads.Clothing for men and women. To school going children we gave them stationery comprising hard covers and writing books, pens, pencils, satchels, khaki and plastic covers and sellotape. To pregnant expecting mothers we supported them with baby bath dishes and buckets, baby clothing, Vaseline, cotton wool, soap etc