Zimbabwe: Making a difference everywhere

This story is about The Renewed Voice Foundation (RVF), a youth led organization rooted in Ntabazinduna, Zimbabwe, whose impact has already expanded into Bulawayo. Although still young and developing, RVF has been driven by a powerful mission: to restore dignity and eliminate social exclusion among children, ensuring that every child regardless of their background, gender, or circumstances has access to basic needs and equal opportunities. At the heart of RVF’s work is a deep commitment to supporting children who have been marginalized by poverty, family breakdown, or community neglect. Many of the children the organization encounters lack food, proper clothing, emotional support, and access to education. Some face discrimination based on gender; in many communities, especially in Ntabazinduna, boys are often prioritized for education while girls face the risk of early dropout and child marriage. 

What makes RVF unique is that it is entirely youth-led run by young people who refuse to look away from the suffering faced by their peers. Despite their age, they have built a movement grounded in compassion, equality, and action, learning to take on roles and responsibilities without limiting themselves to traditional gender expectations. Before RVF began its work, many children in the area lived in conditions of deep social and economic exclusion. Families struggled to meet basic needs, leaving children vulnerable to neglect, stigma, and early dropout from school. Some were wearing torn, uncomfortable clothing; others faced the possibility of leaving school permanently due to unpaid fees. For girls, the consequences were particularly severe without education, many risked being pushed into early marriage. 

RVF recognized that without urgent intervention, these children would continue to be left behind. Their objective was clear: to restore dignity, remove social exclusion, and ensure that all children have the minimum requirements to survive and thrive. Despite being a newly established youth organization, RVF made remarkable progress. Their work led to positive and visible change both for the children they reached and for the youth running the organization. For the children, the change was immediate and lifechanging. RVF provided food, clothing, and school supplies, ensuring that they could live more comfortably and attend school without shame or fear. 

One girl, whose education had been threatened by unpaid fees, was offered full school fee support by RVF. In a society where the boy child is often prioritized, RVF deliberately funded a girl’s education as a stand against gender discrimination. Their decision reflected a clear commitment to gender equality, ensuring that girls are not left behind. For the youth spearheading RVF, this journey was equally transformative. They challenged gender stereotypes by taking on roles traditionally defined by gender norms. They developed leadership, organizational, and problemsolving skills while learning the true meaning of service. They discovered that youth can be agents of change, regardless of age or resource limitations. 

Their work is supported by letters of appreciation from institutions that have witnessed the positive changes first-hand. These letters serve as proof that RVF’s presence has brought comfort, relief, and restored dignity to many children. Through their intervention, RVF prevented at least one girl from dropping out of school and potentially entering child marriage a fate still common in many parts of Zimbabwe. Their clothing and food donations helped children who had been living with extreme discomfort. By stepping in where families could not, RVF became a lifeline for many. 

RVF believes that addressing mindset and mental health is key to dismantling gender discrimination. By building spaces for healing and empowerment, they aim to reduce stigma and promote inclusion from within communities. Their long term vision is to ensure that both young women and young men grow up with the confidence, skills, and opportunities they need to lead and uplift their communities. 

Nomachacho Ndebele, Zimbabwe

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