The 2025 Capstone Fellowship Mid-Program Retreat was a game-changer! Picture a dynamic gathering of young changemakers, passionate about transforming their communities, coming together for three days of collaboration, mentorship, and breakthrough ideas. This wasn’t just a retreat—it was an accelerator for innovation, pushing the nine 2025 Capstone fellows to think bigger and execute bolder!
The retreat was packed with high-impact speaker sessions designed to equip fellows with essential skills for driving sustainable change. On the first day, March 18, 2025, the Capstone Fellows participated in a session with Mr Tendayi Carlton Saunyama, a Youth Development Specialist and ILO-certified SIYB & SURE Trainer, renowned for delivering impactful programs on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, community resilience and sustainability. Mr Saunyama provided deep insights into monitoring, evaluation, research and learning, guiding fellows on how to measure success and refine their strategies for long-term impact. The session emphasized data-driven decision-making and sustainability, ensuring that fellows could effectively assess and enhance their initiatives. Adding to the momentum, Sibusisiwe Mukwakwami and Betty Mafemera shared powerful lessons the coming days on overcoming challenges and scaling social initiatives, further strengthening the fellows’ capacity to drive meaningful change.
Beyond theoretical learning, on the second day of the retreat the fellows had an inspiring site visit to UnCommon.org, a hub of innovation that started as an idea and has since grown to teach thousands of students coding skills. In 2024, UnCommon.org reached 10,000 students, and in 2025, they aim to teach 15,000—an ambitious goal that resonated with the fellows. Witnessing this growth first hand reinforced the idea that their own projects that started as passion ideas could evolve into sustainable initiatives with the right approach and determination.
A burning question throughout the retreat was: What happens when the fellowship ends? Will the projects continue to thrive once the fellows head off to university? Will the communities embrace and sustain the change? These pressing concerns challenged the fellows to craft concrete sustainability plans, ensuring their initiatives leave a lasting impact. Here’s how they plan to make their impact endure:
- Tresalyn Atida Masheka is ensuring long-term inclusivity in STEM education by collaborating with NGOs that advocate for students with hearing and speech impairments.
- Usher Tinotenda Runozivei is leveraging digital media to drive sustainable impact. His YouTube channel, dedicated to raising awareness about the challenges faced by HIV-positive children in education, will continue to grow with regularly updated content.
- Idirashe Mlambo is focused on institutionalizing hygiene practices in Murambinda. She has engaged local health workers to monitor and maintain the tippy tap hand washing stations, ensuring that cholera prevention efforts remain effective for years to come.
- Esther Runyararo Chakwizira is tackling illegal dumping in Budiriro by establishing a structured waste management and recycling system. By transferring the responsibility of distributing bin liners to a trusted organization, she ensures that the initiative will not only continue but also expand its reach.
- Sostene Kashindi envisions a long-term community hub where elderly people in the Tongogara Refugee Camp can engage in meaningful activities. This space will provide a consistent platform for social interaction, physical fitness, and stress relief, making sure the well-being of the elderly remains a priority.
- Persuade Purazeni is confident that his initiative, the Dzidzo Club, will continue making a difference in reducing school dropouts. By fostering strong local support and integrating income-generating activities into school programs, he is ensuring that education remains accessible to students facing financial hardships.
- Gibson Tazivaishe Matongo is building a volunteer network to maintain security patrols in Border Gezi. By recruiting and training more community members for night guard duties, he is creating a self-sustaining security system that will continue to deter crime.
- Melody Matavire is structuring her Mathematics TA program and club to operate independently. By training future student leaders and securing school administration support, she ensures that students in Nyanga will continue receiving engaging and supportive math education beyond her tenure.
- Neka Ben Bukasa is thinking big—he is laying the foundation for a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) to expand his initiative. His project, which empowers people with disabilities through soap-making and fitness programs, will continue to grow with the help of a dedicated support network he is building.
Each fellow is not just launching a project—they are building a movement. With the right approach, strategic partnerships, and strong community involvement, these initiatives are set to thrive long after the fellowship ends, proving that meaningful change is never tied to just one person but to community involvement and the strength of a well-planned, sustainable system.
As the retreat came to a close, the air was filled with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment. Fellows left with sharpened strategies, stronger networks, and an unwavering drive to bring their ideas to life. More than just three days of learning, the Capstone Fellowship Mid-Program Retreat was a launchpad for the next generation of leaders, equipping them with the tools and confidence to drive meaningful change in Zimbabwe and beyond.
The journey does not end here—these young changemakers are just getting started. With bold ideas, relentless passion, and a network of support, they are ready to transform their communities and create lasting impact. The world should take note—this is only the beginning.
