Zimbabwe

Zimbabweans currently face multiple challenges including poverty, unemployment and an HIV epidemic. Young people in particular are affected, due to a lack of effective participation in decision making processes and lack of recognition of their potential to contribute positively to the social and economic development of the country.

Restless Development (Zimbabwe) positions young people as leaders in development, and empowers them to address the needs of young people at national, regional and community levels.

Our programmes, engaging communities over three to five years, provide the support and capacity building necessary to create sustainable change in rural communities. In Zimbabwe, rural regions are historically underserved, with huge resource gaps; and whilst sporadic interventions have been made, these are often unable to effect sustainable change in attitudes and behaviours. Our model is designed to maximise impact, as we both target young people directly and also work with existing structures, campaigns, government ministries, and partner NGOs.

Restless Development has tailored its programmes to address the needs of youth, in particular orphans and vulnerable children, women and out-of-school youth. Our sexual and reproductive health awareness-raising is done through interactive lessons, sports, or via clubs and activities.

We also harness the energies of young people to respond to national emergencies - most recently during the 2009 cholera epidemic.