Ten youth organisations in Bulawayo, including high school students, have been awarded grants under the $50 000 Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Fund to advance the city’s climate priorities and influence climate policy by supporting youth-led initiatives.
The $50 000 grant will be distributed as micro-grants to fund projects designed by young people who have proposed innovative climate solutions.
Bulawayo is one of the 100 cities globally to receive such funding and technical assistance to support youth-driven climate action.
Applications for these grants were received between May 24, 2024, and July 1, 2024.
The ten successful applicants are:
- National University of Science and Technology (NUST) – GIS and Remote Sensing Department, led by Thabani Singwango: They will conduct GIS mapping of Bulawayo’s greenhouse gas emissions sources, identify hotspots, and engage in policy development for emission reduction and climate adaptation through tree planting. Their project will be city-wide, based at the NUST campus.
- NUST – Computer Science Department, led by Kudzai Zhuwaki: They will develop a mobile application for waste segregation and the selling of recycled materials, with their project located at the university campus.
- Youths for Innovation Trust, led by Ashantie Tembo: This group will focus on education and awareness and green software engineering across the city.
- Dominican Convent High School, led by Zinzile Mataka: The school will work on biogas generation and waste management projects to reduce emissions and promote renewable energy at Plot 1 of the Eveline School Extension Site in Bulawayo North Park.
- Green Hut Trust, led by Brighton Moyo: Their initiatives include developing smart bins that communicate with waste collection teams, researching illegal dumping, and replacing non-native tree species with indigenous trees. Their project area is 14th Avenue to 8th Avenue along Samuel Parirenyatwa Street.
- Greater Light Trust, led by Margareth Banda: They will implement renewable lighting solutions and innovative waste management in peri-urban areas, including Methodist, St. Peters, and Mazwi Villages.
- Victory Siyanqoba Trust, led by Thulani Muzenda: They will conduct education and awareness programs and arts and culture initiatives in Nkulumane.
- Intsha Trust, led by Donovan Chiwaka: This project will address food insecurity and climate change by establishing a garden nursery, providing affordable nutritional food seedlings, and promoting climate-resilient gardening practices at Mzilikazi Youth Centre.
- YALI Regional Leaders Centre, led by Thubelihle Roslyn Ndhlovu: The centre will provide education and training on climate-smart agriculture, smart water management, and renewable energy solutions in peri-urban areas, including Methodist, St. Peters, and Mazwi Villages.
- Bulawayo Adventist High School (BAS), led by Tameca Nyasha Baloyi: BAS will focus on reducing greenhouse gases and increasing oxygen levels through the planting of indigenous and herbal trees at their school and in the local community.
At the announcement event held on Friday at the Large City Hall, Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart praised the overwhelming response from young people in Bulawayo, who recognise the existential threat posed by the climate crisis.
“The submissions were of good quality, showing extensive research from young people on a wide range of climate issues. I am glad the grant funding allowed young people in Bulawayo to unleash their energy towards building climate-led solutions and proposed projects to not only provide climate solutions but assist in influencing policy making and city strategic direction,” said Coltart.
The grant application focused on several key areas: youth-led awareness, education, research, development initiatives, climate mitigation and adaptation projects, co-governed youth climate action plans, community clean-up campaigns, tree planting, school awareness programs, waste separation and recycling, and the use of art and culture for climate education.
The mayor noted that 108 applications were received, with submissions made physically, via email, and through Google Forms.
“The selection team evaluated 49 applications received via email, 27 submitted physically at the city hall, and 32 submitted via Google Forms,” Coltart said. The awardees were evaluated on criteria such as being youth-led (ages 15 to 24), organisational registration, project location, project size, and budget alignment.
Coltart revealed the total funding request amounted to $430 349.85, with each application requesting approximately $3,948.72 on average.
“This indicates the funding needs within the city, and it is our hope that we get more funding to support these initiatives,” he said.
While praising the quality of ideas, the mayor expressed concern over some applicants not adhering to the call’s requirements.
“Cognisant of the fact that young people may not have the skills to develop fully fledged proposals, an application form had been made available to guide applicants on key issues in the evaluation criteria. It is unfortunate that we had some who did not feel the need to use the application form, and some who did not include vital information,” Coltart said.
He emphasised that the Youth Climate Action Fund project is intended to influence and benefit all young people in Bulawayo and not one person.
“It is my hope that the city will be eligible to get the additional funding of $100,000 to support more youth-driven projects over the course of one year,” he said.
The next few months will involve implementing these projects, and Coltart encouraged those who were not selected to continue innovating and researching to create new climate solutions in Bulawayo.
